The NSW Police say the Organised Crime Squad, together with NSW Health and the Australian Border Force (ABF), 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.
The seizures have come about during a week of action targeting illicit tobacco in the area under Strike Force Franklin.
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, October 27 and Thursday, October 30, strike force detectives and officers travelled to Mullumbimby where they coordinated a week of action.
Arrests in Mullumbimby and Byron Bay
At 9am on Wednesday, (October 29), 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 1,000x 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, November 24, 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, December 3, 2025.
About 5pm, a 40-year-old woman was arrested after attending Byron Bay Police Station. She was charged with possess more than 1,000x 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, November 24, 2025.
Inspections at Byron Bay tobacconist and Tweed Heads convenience store
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.
Director of State Crime Command’s Criminal Organisations Directorate, Detective Chief Superintendent Grant Taylor, 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
‘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 other 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.’
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant, said 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.’
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