PLEASE NOTE: Images can be downloaded via Hightail https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/gbSUKExgX1
A man has been charged after police seized illegal tobacco and vapes worth more than $230,000 in the state's south.
About 11.30pm on Sunday 24 August 2025, officers attached to the Murray River Police District were conducting mobile patrols on the Newell Highway, about 1km north of the Finley township, when they stopped a vehicle for a purpose of a random breath test.
Police searched the vehicle and located 15 boxes allegedly containing 87,900 cigarettes, 50 vapes and 10.5kg of loose-leaf tobacco – which has an estimated potential combined street value of almost $236,700.
A 41-year-old male driver was arrested and taken to Albury Police Station. He was charged with convey tobacco products with intent to defraud revenue (Customs Act 1901), and possess commercial quantity of vaping goods (Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act).
He was granted conditional bail to appear in Finley Local Court on Tuesday 23 September 2025.
Police will allege in court they were bound for Forbes, Leeton and Narrandera.
