A man has been charged after approximately $266,000 worth of illicit cigarettes, tobacco and vapes were seized during a vehicle stop near Bathurst last week.
About 8.45am on Friday 11 September 2026, officers attached to Bathurst Highway Patrol stopped a van with alleged prohibited window tinting and other alleged defects on the Great Western Highway, Walang, about 20km east of Bathurst.
During a search of the vehicle, police allegedly located and seized approximately 163,000 cigarettes, 37 vapes, 20kg of loose-leaf tobacco, 2.5kg of tobacco pouches, and 46 nicotine patch tins, with a total estimated potential street value of $266,000.
The driver – a 63-year-old man – was issued with a Court Attendance Notice for the offences of possess tobacco 50x or more commercial quantity, and possess commercial quantity of vaping goods.
He is due to appear before Bathurst Local Court on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
A defect notice was also issued.
