Man charged after $2.5m worth of alleged illegal tobacco seized - Nabiac

Wednesday, 25 December 2024 09:33:35 AM

A man has been charged after police allegedly seized $2.5 million worth of illegal cigarettes and vapes from a truck on the Mid North Coast.

About 6.40am yesterday (Tuesday 24 December 2024), officers attached to Forster Highway Patrol stopped a truck on the Pacific Highway, Nabiac, for an alleged traffic offence of crossing dividing lines and a roadside breath test, which returned a negative result.

Police searched the rear storage area of the truck and allegedly found illegal cigarettes and nicotine vapes inside boxes.

The male driver, aged 57, was arrested and taken to Taree Police Station.

He was charged with goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not m/v); restricted substance sold by non-wholesaler; recklessly deal with proceeds of crime, and drive when driver visiting privileges withdrawn.

The man was given conditional bail to appear before Taree Local Court on Tuesday 4 February 2025.

Police will allege in court there were 1,584,000 individual cigarettes of various illegal brands and 6,000 individual nicotine vapes, which has a combined potential street value of more than $2.5 million.

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