National Disruption Group to be established by Federal Government to target illegal tobacco trade ‘middlemen’

The Federal Government has announced a fresh national crackdown on illegal tobacco aimed at disrupting mid-level criminals and enablers of the trade. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says the new Illicit Tobacco National Disruption Group brings together traditional and non-traditional Federal and State partners, bringing in law enforcement, health, tax and border agencies. The problem of illicit tobacco has soared over the past year, with many blaming very high Federal taxes on cigarettes. There was a wave of shootings and firebombings targeting tobacco stores across Perth in August. WA’s Police Commissioner Col Blanch and Police Minister Reece Whitby have called for stronger laws to help close down stores caught selling black market tobacco and vapes. The Federal government has poured more than $350 million into tackling the problem since 2024, and is also losing out through plummeting tobacco excise revenue. Mr Burke said the new disruption group was an innovative model that would harness the enforcement and intelligence powers of its member agencies to target mid-level criminals and enablers operating within small business, intermediaries and sole traders who import, distribute or sell illegal tobacco. The work will complement Australian Border Force’s existing operations targeting and intercepting illegal tobacco at airports and ports. “We also need to look at what happens before it reaches the border, what happens post border, what happens at the warehouse level, and what happens in terms of the flow of funds for these (criminal) organisations as well,” Mr Burke said. “This is a first-of-its-kind whole-of-government response, demonstrating the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to combatting the trade of illicit tobacco and protecting the Australian community at all levels of the supply chain. “Our message is clear: if you profit from illicit tobacco in Australia, you are operating illegally, and you will be the target of the Illicit Tobacco National Disruption Group.”