Port Douglas tobacconist caught up in state-wide shutdown blitz
Shire health
A Port Douglas shop has been shut down for at least 90 days by the Queensland Health department in a statewide crackdown on the illegal tobacco trade.
Norman Gifts and Accessories, at Shop 2, 26-30 Macrossan Street, is now closed until further notice - one of eight stores in the Cairns region and close to 150 across the state to be raided as part of the blitz.
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Close to 12m cigarettes, More than 87,000 vapes and about 1.7 tonnes of other tobacco were seized in the raids, with the total value of produce taken in said to be worth about $15.7m.
Codenamed Operation Major, the 10-day blitz went ahead after tougher new tobacco laws were introduced in November in an effort to crack down on the illegal tobacco trade, which has been growing across the country.
State Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the Government was trying to make Queensland safer.
“In the first 10 days of these tough new laws taking effect, our public health officers, with the support of police, ruthlessly targeted these criminals selling illegal chop chop and dangerous vapes,” Minister Nicolls said.
“Queensland will not tolerate businesses peddling illegal, addictive and dangerous vapes and tobacco in our community.”
Police Minister Dan Purdie said the Queensland Health operation was supported by the Queensland Police Service’s Taskforce Masher, which was targeting organised crime syndicates behind the illicit tobacco trade.
“The efforts of both agencies have led to a significant disruption in the state’s illegal vape and tobacco black market,” Minister Purdie said.
“This operation has stamped out more than 148 dodgy businesses who have no qualms in selling harmful products to our kids.”
Other closed-down shops in the region included Cairns Convenience Store at Westcourt, Downtown Convenience Store, Q11 Tobacconist at Edmonton, Q11 Tobacconist at Manunda, SLS Tobacconist on Lake St, SLS Tobacconist on McLeod St and Villie Convenience Store.
The new laws increase maximum penalties to more than $160,000 and a year in jail for landlords who knowingly allow illegal activity to take place.
And Queensland Health has also been given the authority to employ undercover officers to investigate illegal operations.
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