Police have charged two men after allegedly seizing almost $175,000 worth of cigarettes, vapes and tobacco in Sydney's south west.
In March 2025, Camden Detectives established Strike Force Electrona to target illicit tobacco and vaping devices sold by tobacconist businesses within the Camden Police Area Command.
Strike Force Electrona is a joint, ongoing investigation between Camden detectives and the NSW Health - Tobacco Enforcement Unit.
On the 29th of May 2025, Detectives and NSW Health attended two premises in Tahmoor and Camden where inspections were conducted under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act.
As a result of these inspections, almost 120,000 cigarettes were seized with a potential value of more than $116,000, 18kg of loose tobacco valued at more than $52,000 and almost 1800 vaping devises valued at almost $5,500.
A 42-year-old man was charged with knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, supply vaping goods in NSW and possess commercial quantity of vaping goods.
A 20-year-old man was charged with two counts knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and possess more than 100 times commercial quantity vaping goods in NSW.
Both men were granted conditional bail to appear before Picton Local Court on Thursday 19 June 2025.
Following further inquiries, about 11:20am today (Friday 30 May 2025), Camden Detectives and NSW Health re-attended the tobacconist shop on Argyle Street Camden.
Police seized 5400 cigarettes, 640 grams of loose tobacco and five imitation firearms.
A 20-year-old man was arrested, and charged with breach of bail, possess imitation firearm and knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime.
He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court tomorrow (Saturday 31 May 2025).
