Conducted on 11 August 2026, Operation SHORTHAND stemmed from an intelligence referral into the NDG of suspected criminal activity and the alleged sale of illicit tobacco and vapes through select service stations, which led to the simultaneous targeting of 106 service stations across six jurisdictions.
Intelligence and evidence collected through this operation will now be used by the NDG and partner agencies to pursue those higher up the supply chain, expose criminal connections and help investigators delve deeper into the criminal ecosystems to disrupt activity associated with the illegal tobacco trade.
This approach to disrupting the illicit tobacco market begins with intelligence referrals which is shared and coordinated through the NDG. Partner agencies then take coordinated enforcement aimed at disrupting mid-level enablers and gathering further intelligence.
Intelligence is then shared, with the potential for further disruption opportunities to create an increasingly hostile environment for criminal networks and enablers.
Agencies involved included: the Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Queensland Health, Queensland Police Service, NSW Health, New South Wales Police Force, NSW Crime Commission, Access Canberra, ACT Policing, Tobacco Licensing Victoria (TLV), Victoria Police, South Australian Consumer and Business Services (SA CBS), Western Australian Health.
Across Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, the coordinated enforcement and compliance activity produced the following combined outcomes:
- Seizure of approximately 107,220 cigarette sticks, 5 kgs loose-leaf tobacco, 1,440 vapes, 530 nicotine pouches and 1 prohibited weapon.
- 106 persons of interest identified.
- 11 temporary store/location closures – following the seizure of illicit tobacco and vapes during the operation.
State-based results include:
- Qld Health supported by the QLD Police Service undertook enforcement and compliance activity against 48 locations in Queensland.
- NSW Health supported by the NSW Police Force, AFP and the ABF undertook enforcement and compliance activity against 38 locations resulting in the temporary closure of 9 stores across NSW.
- TGA supported by the ABF, ACT Policing and Access CBR undertook enforcement and compliance activity against 4 locations in Canberra.
- Tobacco Licensing Victoria supported by the ABF, VIC Police and TGA undertook enforcement and compliance activity against 10 locations in Victoria.
- AGD CBS undertook enforcement and compliance activity against 1 location resulting in the temporary closure of 1 location in Adelaide.
- WA Health and the ABF undertook enforcement and compliance activity against 5 locations resulting in the temporary closure of 1 location in Perth.
ABF Assistant Commissioner Customs Compliance and Enforcement Tony Smith said Operation SHORTHAND was designed to disrupt mid-level enablers and identify the criminal enterprises behind the distribution and supply that drive and profit from it.
“The disruptive effect and intelligence gathered by agencies throughout the operation are integral to disrupting the illicit tobacco market and those behind the importation, supply and distribution of it.
“Electronic devices, business records and other intelligence or evidentiary material seized are now being analysed to identify those involved in the broader criminal network, map supply chains and uncover links between facilitators and enablers operating across jurisdictions," Assistant Commissioner Smith said
“In addition to dismantling the criminals behind these enterprises, the operation was also about protecting legitimate businesses from unfair competition so law-abiding retailers are not forced to compete with criminal networks selling illegal, untaxed products.
“This operation demonstrated how quickly and effectively agencies can come together to disrupt criminal activity on a national scale. We will continue working with our partners to identify emerging threats, target criminal networks and protect the Australian community from the harms associated with the illicit tobacco market."
AFP Superintendent Crime Command, Jim Rowe said joint agency collaboration was a key part of the AFP's approach to combat organised crime syndicates.
"The AFP will use the information obtained during this activity to inform its intelligence profiles and investigation plans to combat transnational organised crime syndicates impacting the Australian community.
"Being able to get a detailed look at how legitimate businesses can form part of the illicit tobacco trade helps us and partners understand how organised crime entrenches itself in the community, and then develop strategies to combat it."
ACIC Acting Executive Director Mission Coordination and Analysis, Wendy Darling said the results of Operation Shorthand are a testament to the strong collaboration between intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
“The ACIC provided initial lead intelligence and ongoing analytical support throughout Operation Shorthand.
“The outcomes reinforce our role in providing actionable and insightful intelligence to partner agencies to disrupt organised crime and keep our community safe."
Professor Anthony Lawler, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and Head of the TGA said the TGA remains committed to working closely with our partners to disrupt the unlawful vaping market, protect public health and support the objectives of Australia's vaping reforms.