Highway Patrol officers seize over $2 million worth of cigarettes near Dubbo

Saturday, 22 June 2024 10:59:59 AM

Highway Patrol officers have located and seized over $2 million worth of illegal cigarettes near Dubbo yesterday.

About 4.20pm yesterday (Friday 21 June 2024), officers attached to Dubbo Highway Patrol stopped a Pantech truck on the Newell Highway, Dubbo, for a random breath test.

During the stop police allegedly located over 180 boxes containing a combination of illegal cigarettes and vapes.

Following a search of the vehicle officers allegedly located and seized over 1.6 million illegal cigarettes and 1550 vapes.

The combined street value of these items is estimated to be over $2.5 million.

Police arrested the driver of the truck, a 61-year-old man, before taking him to Dubbo Police Station.

The 61-year-old Queensland man was charged with possess tobacco 100 kilograms or above, convey/possess tobacco products reckless re defraud revenue, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, restricted substance sold by non-wholesaler, deal with property proceeds of crime greater than $100000 and possess/attempt to, prescribed restricted substance.

The man was refused bail to appear before Dubbo Local Court today (Saturday 22 June 2024).

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