May 12, 2025

Illegal tobacco worth more than $500k seized after crash near Grafton

One-hundred-and-twenty five Boxes containing loose-leaf tobacco were discovered. Photo: Coffs/Clarence PD Facebook page.

TWO teenagers have been charged after illegal tobacco worth more than $500,000 was found when a truck crashed near Grafton on Sunday.

About 4am on Sunday 4 May, emergency services were called to the Pacific Highway, Tucabia, 25km east of Grafton, following reports of a crash.

Officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Police District attended and found a truck had left the roadway, before rolling and landing on its side.

Two men, both aged 19, were able to get out of the truck uninjured; however, when the truck was checked, 125 boxes containing loose-leaf tobacco were discovered.

The boxes weighed in at about 2.5 tonnes which have an estimated potential street value of $500,000.

Police have been advised this is a total excise loss of more than $1m.

A crime scene was established and investigations commenced.

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