A police operation in South Australia has led to the seizure of more than $1.74 million in illegal vapes and tobacco, along with $80,100 in cash.
The discovery was made on Friday 25 April when police stopped a refrigerated truck at a known drug transit route in Port Augusta. Officers from the Far North Local Service Area, Traffic Services Branch and Serious and Organised Crime Branch searched the truck and found illicit products and cash.
Two men, aged 32 and 62 from New South Wales, were arrested and charged with unlawful possession and possession of tobacco products for sale. Both appeared in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on 28 April and were remanded in custody until their next court date on 1 July.
The truck has been seized and will be subject to confiscation proceedings.
The investigation is now being handled by Operation Eclipse, a South Australia Police initiative targeting organised crime linked to the illicit tobacco trade.
Brett Featherby, Operation Eclipse Commander and Detective Chief Inspector, said the seizure highlights the risks for crime groups using South Australia as a transit point.
“The seizure demonstrates the risk to syndicates should they seek to transport illicit tobacco through South Australia to other states.
“Organised crime syndicates transporting illicit tobacco through transit routes in regional areas will be subject to a whole of SAPOL response to disrupt their criminal activity and financial operations.
“SAPOL will pursue criminal charges when sufficient evidence exists and that includes those who are supporting and enabling that activity and take every opportunity to enforce the full extent of the confiscations legislation to seize assets of those involved.”
Since it began, Operation Eclipse has made 35 arrests for offences including blackmail, arson, money laundering, and illegal tobacco possession. Police have searched 184 locations and seized over $17.9 million worth of tobacco, $2.2 million in cash and three firearms.
South Australians have provided 394 tip-offs to Crime Stoppers since October 2023, supporting police investigations.
Andrea Michaels, Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, described the recent seizure as a major step in combating illegal vape and tobacco sales.
“This is a significant win in our fight against illicit tobacco and vapes with the biggest seizure of illegal vapes to date.
“As a result, we now have 35,000 less vapes headed to illegal tobacco stores to damage people’s health and line the coffers of criminals.
“The Malinauskas Government will not tolerate the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes in our community.
“No matter where you are operating in South Australia, if you are selling or importing illicit tobacco and vapes, you will be caught and subject to some of the toughest penalties in Australia.”
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