Flash police checks on Hume Highway unearth $1.46m worth of illegal cigarettes, vapes

A police operation conducted for road safety on the Hume Highway on Wednesday and Thursday unearthed an alleged smuggling of 869,000 illegal cigarettes worth $1.3 million and 3200 vapes worth $160,000.

Three people were booked in connection and will face court in October.

NSW Police said the multi-agency operation targeting road safety compliance titled Operation Fume was conducted at the Mundoonan Rest Area northbound lane of the Hume Highway at Jerrawa, about 20 kilometres north of Yass, between 11am on Wednesday until 3am on Thursday.

Police checked a Mercedes van and found illegal cigarettes worth $1.3 million being transported. A man and a woman were booked in connection. Picture NSW Police

Police had established a high-visibility stationary roadside breath and drug test site, with all northbound traffic diverted through the rest area.

At 11pm on Wednesday, a 24-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were stopped in a Mercedes Sprinter van at the site, where police searched the vehicle.

Officers located and seized 869,000 illegal cigarettes, with an estimated street value of $1.3 million. The two were taken to Yass Police Station and charged with possessing tobacco in more than a commercial quantity.

Police also intercepted a vehicle and located 3200 vapes, worth an estimated $160,000, inside. Photo NSW Police

Shortly before 11pm, police stopped a Mitsubishi Canter at the site where they searched the vehicle and located 3200 vapes, worth an estimated $160,000. A 32-year-old man was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for possessing a commercial quantity of vaping goods.

The three people are scheduled to appear at Yass Local Court on October 1, 2026, police said.

Police had established a high-visibility stationary roadside breath and drug test site, with all northbound traffic diverted through the rest area. Picture by NSW Police.

The operation, conducted in response to continuing road safety concerns following recent serious and fatal crashes involving cars and heavy vehicles along the Hume Highway transport corridor, was led by NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command with assistance from The Hume Police District, NSW Dog Unit, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and Transport for NSW.

Throughout the operation, there were 81 roadside drug tests conducted with six positive tests detected.

Police carried out 369 breath tests with one drink-driving offence detected and issued 16 infringement notices and one defect notice. Three vehicles were searched and two unauthorised drivers were also detected.