The NSW Police Organised Crime Squad, together with NSW Health and the Australian Border Force, have charged four people and seized more than 18,000 vapes, 1.9 million illicit cigarettes, 74kg of loose-leaf tobacco and five unregistered firearms in a week of action targeting illicit tobacco on the state's Far North Coast under Strike Force Franklin.
Strike Force Franklin was established in December 2024 by State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad with the NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC), and with assistance from Australian Border Force (ABF), NSW Health, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Queensland Police and Victoria Police.
Strike Force Franklin is a NSW Police Force initiative designed to support a whole-of-government approach to tackling illicit tobacco across the state. The strategy focuses on identifying and disrupting the significant proceeds of crime generated within the illicit tobacco industry.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives uncovered a network allegedly funnelling criminal profits through tobacconists selling illicit tobacco on the Far North Coast.
Between Monday 27 October and Thursday 30 October 2025, strike force detectives and officers travelled to Mullumbimby where they coordinated a week of action.
At 9am on Wednesday (29 October 2025), a 27-year-old man was arrested at a Mullumbimby storage shed and taken to Byron Bay Police Station.
NSW Police State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad - with the assistance of Raptor North, Operation Utah, ABF and NSWCC - subsequently executed search warrants at three storage units and two homes at Mullumbimby.
At the storage units, investigators seized 17,120 vapes, more than 1.8 million illicit cigarettes, and 62kg of loose-leaf tobacco. At the two homes, five unregistered firearms, $40,000 cash, mobile phones, electronic equipment and assorted illicit cigarettes and vapes were seized.
Two men, aged 24 and 41 were arrested at the two Mullumbimby homes and taken to Byron Bay Police Station.
The two men, aged 24 and 27, were each charged with possess more than 1000x commercial quantity of illicit vapes, deal with proceeds of crime and participate in a criminal group. They were both granted conditional bail to appear at Byron Bay Local Court on Monday 24 November 2025.
The 41-year-old man was charged with five counts of possess unregistered firearm. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Mullumbimby Local Court on Wednesday 3 December 2025.
About 5pm, a 40-year-old woman was arrested after attending Byron Bay Police Station. She was charged with possess more than 1000x commercial quantity of illicit vapes, two counts of deal with proceeds of crime and participate in a criminal group.
She was granted conditional bail to appear at Byron Bay Local Court on Monday 24 November 2025.
NSW Health inspectors, together with NSW Police, carried out inspections of two premises, a Byron Bay tobacconist and a Tweed Heads convenience store seizing 1,693 vapes, 89,746 illicit cigarettes and 11.5kg of loose-leaf tobacco.
These inspections resulted in the seizure of illicit tobacco and illegal vapes with an estimated street value of $2,356,905.
Detectives Chief Superintendent Grant Taylor, Director of State Crime Command's Criminal Organisations Directorate, said police will continue to target organised crime syndicates who profit from the sale of illicit tobacco or any other illegal commodity.
"The sale of illicit tobacco across NSW is fuelling the rise in sophisticated crime networks both in our metropolitan centres and in regional towns.
"That is why it is so important we work collaboratively with State and Federal agencies to stamp out these syndicates before they endanger local communities further," Det C/Supt Taylor said.
"Strike Force Franklin is just one example of this collaborative effort as we continue to tackle all levels of criminality that come from illicit tobacco.
Illicit Tobacco and Vape Enforcement Commander Greg Dowse said the ABF and our partners will continue to apply pressure on the organised crime groups operating in the illicit tobacco market.
"The ABF remains relentless in our pursuit of those networks pre border, at the border and domestically, and will continue to disrupt these crime groups and their networks across the supply chain."
"This operation demonstrates the strength of our partnership with state and territory agencies across Australia; by combining our intelligence and operational capabilities we are striking at the heart of the major criminal syndicates behind the illicit tobacco market, Commander Dowse said.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said, "this operation is a great example of the cooperation between State and Federal enforcement agencies to disrupt the supply of unlawful tobacco and vaping products and to protect public health."
"Retailers in NSW now face some of the toughest penalties in the country for the sale and commercial possession of illicit tobacco including maximum penalties of $660,000 for an individual or $880,000 for a corporation.
"Tobacco use remains one of the biggest factors contributing to premature death. I acknowledge it's not always easy, but I encourage people who smoke to think about quitting both for themselves and for their loved ones."
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
