NSW vision can be downloaded here and images downloaded here
ACT vision can be downloaded here and images downloaded here
The second official operation of the Australian Border Force (ABF)-led Illicit Tobacco National Disruption Group (NDG) across New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has resulted in:
- Seizure of approximately 2,969,000 illicit cigarettes, over 184kg loose‑leaf tobacco and over 98,500 vaping devices.
- Seizure of over AUD $27,000 cash
- Issued short term closure orders at 23 non‑compliant retailers and the re-closure under an existing order of one retail store
- Identified 15 persons of interest
- Total of approximately AUD $4.23 million in estimated duty evaded
NDG Operation TEMPEST26 is a multi-phased joint agency operation to detect, deter and disrupt illicit tobacco networks that threaten Australia's borders and the community. This result follows on from the first NDG Operation across QLD and SA in February.
Partners in the NDG worked collaboratively between state, territory and commonwealth agencies, ensuring that activity conducted within jurisdictions is used to inform national activities to ensure maximum disruption in the supply chain of illicit tobacco including import, storage, distribution and retail by mid-level criminals and enablers.
This information fed into the coordinated high visibility week of action, which took place between Monday 20 and Friday 24 April 2026.
Over 34 locations were targeted, including 30 retailers and 4 air cargo depots, with results from the nationally coordinated week of action highlighting the successful approach of NDG coordinating information and intelligence sharing, enforcement, and disruption activities.
Agencies involved include the ABF, NSW Health, NSW Police, NSW Crime Commission, ACT City and Environment Directorate, ACT Police, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), AUSTRAC and Services Australia.
NSW week of action results
NSW Health inspectors supported by NSW Police, ABF and TGA conducted inspections at 24 retail outlets located across the Central coast; concurrently, ABF officers attended 4 air cargo depots located in Sydney, these activities resulted in the seizure of:
- Over 2,514,000 illicit cigarettes, 158 kg loose-leaf tobacco and over 96,900 vaping devices, and
- 260 cigars, and
- 800 nicotine pouches.
NSW Health inspectors issued 23 short term closure orders to retail outlets, and reclosed 1 retail outlet under its existing closure order, with ABF identifying 9 persons of interest with known links to the illicit tobacco trade.
ACT week of action results
Across 6 retail outlets located in Canberra, officers from Access Canberra, ACT Police and TGA, working with the ABF seized:
- Over 455,100 illicit cigarettes, approximately 26kg loose leaf tobacco, and over 1,640 vaping devices
- Identified 6 persons of interest with known links to the illicit tobacco trade, and
- Approximately AUD $27,400 cash, and over 6,290 cigars
The NDG will assess information gathered during the week of action to identify further disruption opportunities with partner agencies in order to break the business model of illicit tobacco in Australia and create an increasingly hostile environment for criminal networks and enablers. Examples of these activities may include:
- Business closures
- Exploring revocation of transport and professional licenses
- Financial and benefits assessments by Federal, Territory and State Authorities
- Visa reviews by the Department of Home Affairs
- Immediate information sharing with law enforcement and regulatory agencies
The NDG currently has 29 external partnerships across Federal, State and Territory agencies, and industry sectors committed to supporting coordinated action led by the NDG.
Investigations and further enforcement action remain ongoing.
Quotes
Australian Border Force - Commander Greg Dowse
"Operations of this scale demonstrate the strength of a truly unified effort and reflect the depth of cooperation across jurisdictions. By sharing our intelligence in real time and combining our resources and legislative powers, we can respond as a force multiplier to illicit tobacco criminal networks that rely on fragmentation between agencies.
"The ABF are proud to have coordinated this effort which we hope sends a clear message to criminals and enablers working in the illicit tobacco market: there are no longer any safe havens, whether it's at the border, in transit, or within the domestic market, with agencies working together to detect and disrupt illicit tobacco activity at every stage."
NSW Health - Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant
"The operation in the Central Coast is a great example of the cooperation between State and Commonwealth enforcement agencies to disrupt the supply of unlawful tobacco and vaping products and to protect public health.
"These closures show that our teams are ready to act swiftly and are committed to tackling illicit tobacco and the illegal trade in NSW."
NSW Police - State Crime Command's Director of Crime Operations, Detective Chief Superintendent Grant Taylor
"The New South Wales Police Force remains committed to supporting our partner agencies in their efforts to combat the illicit tobacco trade.
"Collaborative enforcement activity allows NSW Health and other regulatory agencies to carry out their work with the appropriate policing support in place.
"NSW Police Force will continue to provide that support to ensure compliance around illicit tobacco and ultimately protect the community from its harm."
NSW Crime Commission
"The NSW Crime Commission is focussing on organised crime involvement in the illicit tobacco trade within NSW. The Commission is on hand to help facilitate the targeting of any criminal wealth derived from the sale and distribution of illicit tobacco via the Commission's asset confiscation capabilities. We will continue to work tirelessly to strip the criminal wealth out of organised crime".
ACT Government - Commissioner for Fair Trading, Access Canberra Josh Rynehart
"Strong collaboration across agencies is essential to disrupt illicit tobacco networks and protecting the ACT community. Illicit tobacco and vaping products undermine compliant Canberra businesses and expose consumers to unregulated and potentially harmful products.
"This joint operation has taken firm action against non‑compliant retailers and disrupted criminal supply chains, reinforcing that unlawful trading will not be tolerated in the ACT."
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission - Adam Meyer, Executive Director Mission Coordination and Analysis Division
"These outcomes were the result of strong partnerships between intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
'The ACIC remains focused on providing unique, actionable and insightful intelligence to inform our partner agencies and assist operations such as those coordinated through the Illicit Tobacco NDG. This result highlights the value of robust, ongoing collaboration to disrupt and dismantle the illicit tobacco trade."
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) - Professor Anthony Lawler, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and Head of the TGA
"As an active member of the National Disruption Group, the TGA recognises its critical role and remains committed to working closely with enforcement partners nationwide to stop the illicit trade in vaping goods, in line with the National Vaping Enforcement Framework."
ACT Policing - ACT Policing Detective Acting Superintendent Laura Howe
"Illegal tobacco remains a significant issue and this week of action helps disrupt the illicit tobacco industry. Organised crime groups dealing in illicit tobacco are often involved in other serious offences and profit significantly from the trade, so we will continue to collaborate with other agencies with the same commitment to help put a stop to the illegal trade and ensure the safety of the community."
Australian Federal Police - Commander Brett James
"Illicit tobacco is not only fuelling criminal ecosystems in Australia, but also bankrolling other illegal activities committed by organised crime.
"The AFP and our partners will continue to proactively target individuals involved in this trade both here and offshore, to disrupt their illicit business models, and prevent harm to innocent people and legitimate business owners."
