Queensland Unleashes Nation’s Harshest Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco

Illegal retailers now face instant fines of $32,260 for individuals and $161,300 for companies under new laws.
Queensland Unleashes Nation’s Harshest Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco
A photo illustration of black market cigarettes displayed in Melbourne, Australia on March 26, 2025. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
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Queensland has become the latest state to ramp up its crackdown on Australia’s booming illicit tobacco market, unveiling the nation’s toughest penalties and launching targeted enforcement actions across the state.

Since April 3, authorities have conducted 36 raids, netting more than 820,000 illegal cigarettes, 180 kilograms of loose tobacco, and 24,000 nicotine pouches.

Naziya Alvi Rahman
Naziya Alvi Rahman
Author
Naziya Alvi Rahman is a Canberra-based journalist who covers political issues in Australia. She can be reached at [email protected].