Australia NSW Police Crack Down on Illicit Tobacco Syndicate Under Strike Force Franklin

Key Highlights

• Joint enforcement effort by NSW Police, ABF, and NSW Health under Strike Force Franklin.
• Seizures include 18,000+ vapes, 1.9 million cigarettes, 74kg tobacco, and 5 firearms.
• Four suspects charged with offences including money laundering and organised crime.
• Estimated value of seized goods: AUD 2.36 million(1.54 million US dollars).

On November 3, 2025, The NSW Police Organised Crime Squad, in collaboration with NSW Health and the Australian Border Force (ABF), has charged four individuals and seized over 18,000 vapes, 1.9 million illicit cigarettes, 74kg of tobacco, and five unregistered firearms as part of Strike Force Franklin, an operation targeting organised crime networks in the state’s Far North Coast.

The strike force, established in December 2024, is a joint initiative of the NSW Police State Crime Command and NSW Crime Commission, supported by ABF, ACIC, Queensland and Victoria Police.

Between October 27–30, 2025, investigators conducted raids across Mullumbimby, uncovering storage units and homes used to distribute illicit tobacco products. Seized items included 17,120 vapes, 1.8 million cigarettes, 62kg of loose-leaf tobacco, $40,000 cash, and several firearms.

A 27-year-old man and two others aged 24 and 41 were arrested, charged with offences including possession of commercial quantities of vapes, dealing with proceeds of crime, and participation in a criminal group. A 40-year-old woman was later arrested and charged with similar offences.

NSW Health inspectors also seized 1,693 vapes, 89,746 cigarettes, and 11.5kg of tobacco from two retail locations in Byron Bay and Tweed Heads.

These inspections resulted in the seizure of illicit tobacco and illegal vapes with an estimated street value of $2,356,905(1.54 million US dollars)..

Detective Chief Superintendent Grant Taylor said:

“The sale of illicit tobacco across NSW is fuelling the rise in sophisticated crime networks. It is essential that we work collaboratively with state and federal agencies to stamp out these syndicates before they endanger our communities further.”

ABF Commander Greg Dowse added that the joint operation demonstrates “the strength of partnership across agencies” to disrupt supply chains from border to retail level.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said retailers face “some of the toughest penalties in the country,” including fines up to $660,000 for individuals and $880,000 for corporations, urging smokers to consider quitting for their health and families.

Image source: nsw.gov.au