A joint operation between the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) has delivered "one of the largest" tobacco busts in the state's history.
Operation Xray Modred was initiated in February by the QPS's Money Laundering Unit to target suspected money laundering activities linked to an organised crime syndicate.
Investigations led police to identify suspicious activity at a storage facility in Brendale, in the Moreton Bay region north of Brisbane.
Over three days in August, ABF officers executed warrants across 17 storage sheds in Rothwell, North Lakes and Brendale.
They located more than 30 million cigarettes, 395,000 vapes and more than 4,650 kilograms of tobacco.
At the same time, QPS detectives, in collaboration with Taskforce Masher and Queensland Health compliance officers executed warrants at eight tobacconists and six residential addresses.
They located a further 450,000 illicit cigarette, 6,000 vapes, 500 kilograms of tobacco and $1 million in cash.
Across the two operations, the total duty evaded for the seizures of cigarettes and tobacco is estimated to be over $53.8 million, while the estimated street value of vapes is around $20 million.
One of largest busts for the state
ABF Acting Assistant Commissioner North James Copeman said the collaboration had helped deliver historic results.
"This is one of the largest illicit tobacco busts in Queensland's history," he said.
"In less than a week, the ABF and our partners have put a significant dent in two major illicit tobacco networks.
"The ABF is committed to not only disrupting but also dismantling these criminal networks exploiting the tobacco trade and profiting at the community's expense."
Queensland Acting Premier Jarrod Bleijie has applauded the efforts by agencies to confiscate items.
"This [result] shows that the government is cracking down on illegal tobacco and illegal vapes, we make no apology for that," Mr Bleijie said.
"The state government has a zero tolerance approach to illegal vapes, tobacco and drugs … we'll keep giving police the resources and putting laws in place [to stop the trade]."
