Frecklington confirmed last week the government was considering its options in relation to illegal operators.
“They’re popping up in all of our regional cities and towns. It is an increasing concern,” she said.
Attorney General Deb Frecklington at Parliament House on Wednesday.Credit: William Davis
“I’ve asked for a briefing from my department, and we’re working through that as well at a director level.
“We need to ensure that there is enforcement taking place … and that’s exactly why we’re working through the range of options available to us.
“It is a very serious issue, and one that I’m taking very seriously. You’ll hear me talk a lot more about this.”
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With Queensland Health also involved as the regulator, Carroll insisted the department had a “zero-tolerance approach”.
“Our strict illicit tobacco laws are helping to effectively stop the sale of millions of illegal tobacco and vaping products in the state,” she said.
“Our enforcement action is having a disruptive impact on the supply of illegal vapes at retail stores, with fewer items being held in-store, lower seizure quantities, observation of price increases, and the closure of vape-only retailers.”
In a 12-week blitz by Queensland Health from July, more than 5.2 million cigarettes and 1.2 tonnes of loose tobacco were seized from Queensland retailers.
About 8500 illegal vapes and 12,000 nicotine pouches were also found.
Organised crime is believed to control about 75 per cent of the market.
In December, it emerged Australia Post contractors were busted in an alleged plot to a plot to import more than half a million illegal cigarettes into Queensland by infiltrating the delivery service.
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