The Queensland Government’s new approach to dealing with illegal tobacco and resulted in 148 store to be issued with closure notices. The government’s press release has details.
The combined street value of the haul is estimated to exceed $15.7 million, making Operation Major the most successful operation targeting illicit store closures in Australia.
The Tobacco and Other Smoking Products (Dismantling Illegal Trade) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 passed Parliament on 19 November 2025 and took effect the following week, giving Queensland Health new powers to shut stores for 90-days without a court order, in the latest crackdown on rogue traders.
This is a new approach to dealing with illegal tobacco, one that is, I am sure, welcome by tobacco retailers who don’t sell illegal tobacco. There are plenty of news stories covering this. The list of stores closed has been published by the government.
Cairns
Cairns Convenience Store – Westcourt
Downtown Convenience Store
Norman Gifts and Tobacconist
Q11 Tobacconist, Edmonton
Q11 Tobacconist, Manunda
SLS Tobacconist, Lake St
SLS Tobacconis, McLeod St
Villie Convenience Store
Central Queensland
Berserker Tobacconist
Dunya Stars (Tannum Sands Gift)
Dunyia Market
East Street Tobacconist Rockhampton
Emerald Roll Smoke
Frenchville Gifts and Tobacconist
LTS Tobacco Station Biloela
R1 Tobacconist and Gifts
Rocky Tobacconist
Tobacco Shed Allenstown
Tobacco Shed Yeppoon
Urban Tobacconist
Urban Tobacconist – Dawson Road
Darling Downs
AJ Tobacconist Warwick
Master Tobacconist Kingaroy
Outback Tobacconist Dalby
Roma Gift Store
Tobacco Hut Warwick
Tobacconist Gifts and Convenience Store –
Top of the Range Convenience
Town Tobacco and Gifts Kingaroy
Wisam Gift Shop
Wyalla Gifts and Tobacconist – Newtown
Gold Coast
Ashmore Tobacconist and Gifts
Burleigh Tobacconist
Coolangatta Gift Station and Tobacco
Ezy Mart Express – Southport
Gold Coast Convenience
Helensvale Tobacconist
Nerang Tobacconist and Vapes
Ormeau Vape and Tobacco
Paradise Tobacconist Surfers Paradise
Puff Paradise Surfers Paradise
Southport Tobacconist and Gifts
Southport Tobacconist (Tobacco Stop)
The Park General
Tobacco Shed Benowa
Tobacco Shed Miami
Tobacco Shed Mudgeeraba
Tobacco Shed Upper Coomera
Tobacconist Store Miami
Uncle Gabriel Broadbeach
Mackay
Acai Tobacconist and Convenience
Dysart Convenience Store
Mackay Tobacconist and Gifts
MTP Tobacco and Gifts
Omega’s Vape and Tobacco
Priceless Tobacconist Shop
Sarina’s Tobacconist
Shakespeare Street Tobacconist
Smoke and Vape Cannonvale
Tobacco Shed Collinsville
Metro North
Blackwood Tobacconist
Bowen Hills Tobacconist
Caboolture Tobacconist
Grovely Tobacconist and Convenience
Kallangur Corner Store
Margate Tobacconist and Gift Store
Milton Gifts
Northside Tobacconist
Ozzy Tobacconist
Petrie Tobacconist
Rawan Boutique and Tobacconist
Redcliffe Tobacconist and Gift
Sumer Market
The Legend Tobacconist
Metro South
Browns Plains Vape and Tobacco
Cali Tobacconist West End
Confectionery and Gifts – Cannon Hill
Empire Tobacconist Tingalpa
Ezy Convenience – Slacks Creek
Firat Market, Slacks Creek
H and J Pet Supplies – Slacks Creek
Middle Eastern Convenience Store, Flagstone
Petra Convenience Store
PT Convenience and Gifts, Capalaba
SC Convenience – Slacks Creek
The Gabba Store
Tigris 2 / Tigris Supermarket
Tobacconist 63, Cleveland
Tobacconist King – Cleveland
Uncle Billy’s and Co, Beenleigh
VP Convenience Store – Victoria Point
Westend Express
North West
Cloncurry Convenience Store
Mount Isa Mart
Mount Isa Tobacconist
Sunshine Coast
Beerwah Tobacconist and Accessories
Bli Bli Tobacconist
Golden Leaf Tobacconist
I GET Tobacconists Buddina
Maroochydore Tobacconist
Nambour Gift
Nambour Gifts and Tobacconist
Ocean Street Mini Market
Ozzy Tobacconist Gympie
Sweet Treats Convenience
The Brothers Tobacconist
Townsville
A1 Ch Tobacconist and Accessories
Aitkenvale Tobacconist
Big Bear Tobacconist
Burdekin Tobacconist
Edison Street Tobacconist
Flinders Mart Tobacconist
Ingham Gifts
KW Tobacconist
Milk Bar Ingham
Mooney’s Specialty Tobacconist
North Shore Tobacco Station Burdell
Taken Tobacconist
Thuringowa Village Tobacconist
Tobacconist Gifts Accessories and Drinks
West Moreton
Brisbane Street Convenience
Bushra Gifts and Accessories
Clothing Designer Drip
EH Shop
Gatton Tobacconist
Gifts and More – Ipswich
Go2 Newsagency
Goodna Gifts Cigarette Accessory
King of the Pack Plainland
Lockyer Valley Tobacconist
North Ipswich Gift Shop
Springfield Lake Tobacconist
Springfield Tobacconist
The Gift Nook
Tobacconist 43
Tornado Mart Lowood
Yamato Tobacconist
Withcott Tobacco Gifts
Wide Bay
Blue Shop Maryborough
Bundy Tobacconist
Bundy Vape and Tobacco Convenience
Childers Convenience Store
Maryborough Tobacco and Convenience
Maryborough Tobacconist
MB Convenience and Tobacco
Urangan Convenience