$400,000 in illegal tobacco, vapes found in van

MORE than $400,000 worth of illegal tobacco products and vapes have been seized from a vehicle at a roadside testing site near Narrandera.

The haul was allegedly discovered packed inside a white Mercedes van that had been directed to pull over at a testing station on the Newell Highway at Gillenbah, just south of Narrandera, on Friday afternoon.

The driver, a 52-year-old man from southwest Sydney, returned a negative result on both a breath test and drug test but reportedly raised suspicions during further questioning.

“Police had further conversations with the driver and based on this conversation, the driver was informed that police intended on searching his vehicle,” a NSW Police spokesperson said.

A subsequent search allegedly uncovered numerous boxes containing more than 153,000 cigarettes, 4,200 vapes, and 7,500 nicotine pouches.

Police estimate the street value of the seized items at over $400,000.

The man was arrested and taken to Narrandera Police Station, where he was charged with three counts of possessing goods suspected of being stolen.

He was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear at Narrandera Local Court on July 24.