A fuel station on Hindmarsh Drive in Phillip was raided on Tuesday as part of a nationwide, multiagency operation targeting the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes.
The raids, dubbed Operation Shorthand, were carried out simultaneously at more than 100 service stations across Australia. The joint operation involved various agencies primarily the Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Federal Police (AFP), and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).
In Canberra, a team also including officers from ACT Policing, Access Canberra, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) raided the Metro Petroleum outlet on Tuesday morning.
Officers inspected tobacco stock inside the service station's convenience store. It is not yet clear whether any illicit tobacco or vapes were seized.
In an official statement, the ABF confirmed raids were executed across Queensland, NSW, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.
Operation Shorthand was established following an intelligence referral to the National Disruption Group by the AFP and ACIC, which identified alleged links between service station networks, suspected criminal activity, and the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes.
The operation remains active as agencies continue to review materials and information gathered during Tuesday's raids.
The ABF is expected to announce the full outcomes of the operation in the coming week.
