Three Nambour tobacco shops shut down amid state-wide black market blitz

Nambour Gifts Tobacconist and Vapes.

Golden Leaf Tobacconist

Nambour Gift Centre & Tobacco

Three Nambour shops have been forced to close in a state-wide sweep in which more than $15m worth of illegal cigarettes have been taken off Queensland streets.

The country’s biggest tobacconist crackdown comes after new legislation allows Queensland Health powers to shut stores for 90 days without a court order. 

Eleven shops were closed on the Coast, for 90 days, including the three in Nambour.

The 10-day blitz by Queensland Health officers concluded last week and shut down 148 stores selling black market vapes and cigarettes.

The operation seized $15.7million of product including 87,000 vapes, 11.8 million cigarettes, 1.7 tonnes of loose tobacco, 4.2 litres of vaping liquid and 270,000 nicotine pouches.

The 3 Nambour shops forced to close were:

• Golden Leaf Tobacconist Shop 4 6-22 Currie St

• Nambour Gift Centre & Tobacco 40-42 Lowe St

•Nambour Gifts & Tobacconist and Vapes 101 Currie Street.

There is no suggestion that the stores targeted deliberately engaged in the sale of unlawful tobacco products, or that their operators or employees are involved in organised crime.

The new laws passed recently and expand Queensland Health’s powers to seize stock, shut stores and penalise illegal traders.  

The laws also create new powers to target landlords complicit in the illegal trade and give enforcement officers the power for undercover operations.

Under the laws:

• Queensland Health can shut down illegal businesses for three months (up from three days) without having to go through lengthy court processes. 

• Queensland Health can now seize all lawful smoking products found at illegal stores that are ‘tainted’ by being supplied or stored alongside illicit tobacco and vapes, including confectionary, food and other goods. This includes nitrous oxide bulbs and canisters, known as ‘nangs’.

• Queensland Health officers can now conduct undercover operations at illicit tobacco and vape stores.

• Landlords have new powers to terminate leases when they are notified their tenant is an illegal operator.

• It is now a criminal offence for commercial landlords to knowingly permit illegal tobacco or activity, with a maximum penalty of a $166,900 fine and 12 months in jail.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the laws delivered on the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to stamping out criminal trade and keeping tobacco out of children’s hands. 

“Our new laws introduce tougher penalties, longer store closures, and powers to seize more stock than ever before.  These laws will also empower landlords to boot out their dodgy tenants caught peddling these illegal products. Our hardline approach has been so successful that other states and territories are now beginning to mirror Queensland’s tough enforcement approach, and we welcome this.”