Police have seized over a million illegal cigarettes and have charged three people following a multi-agency investigation into the alleged supply of illicit tobacco in the Sydney area.
On Saturday 23 May 2026, officers attached to Bankstown Region Enforcement Squad (RES) – with assistance from Green Valley RES, Cumberland Police Area Command and the Australian Border Force – searched several vehicles and executed a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal tobacco supply in Sydney.
As part of the operation, officers stopped and searched vehicles in Greystanes, Haberfield and Rosehill, during which they allegedly seized a number of boxes containing illegal cigarettes and $34,500 in cash.
Following the searches, police arrested three people – two men aged 34 and 37 and a 33-year-old woman – before taking them all to different police stations.
About 3.30pm the same day, officers executed a search warrant at a home on Gregory Street, Greystanes.
During the search, police allegedly located and seized 712,800 illegal cigarettes and five firearms.
The total number of illegal cigarettes seized during the operation was 1,352,800 with an estimated value of $3,382,000.
All three people were charged with convey/possess tobacco products reckless regarding defraud revenue.
The 37-year-old man was also charged with recklessly deal with proceeds of crime more than $5000.
He was refused bail and appeared before Bail Division Court 6 yesterday (Sunday 24 May 2026), where he was formally refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Thursday 28 May 2026.
The younger man was refused bail and appeared before Bail Division Court 7 yesterday (Sunday 24 May 2026), where he was formally refused bail to appear before Burwood Local Court on Tuesday 26 May 2026.
The woman was granted conditional bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 24 June 2026.
Investigations are ongoing.
