Illegal tobacco worth more than $500,000 seized after crash near Grafton

Sunday, 04 May 2025 06:20:21 PM

PLEASE NOTE: Tucabia is pronounced two-KAY-bee-ah and the image of the boxes can be found the Coffs/Clarence PD Facebook page

Two men have been charged after illegal tobacco worth more than $500,000 was found when a truck crashed near Grafton this morning.

About 4am today (Sunday 4 May 2025), 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 was 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.

The men were arrested and taken to Grafton Police Station where they were charged with,

• Convey/possess tobacco products reckless re defraud revenue
• Deal with property proceeds of crime greater than $100000
• Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle)

The driver was charged with an additional offence being:

• Possess means of disguising face with intent commit indictable offence

They were bail refused to appear before Grafton Local Court tomorrow (Monday 5 May 2025).

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