In an unprecedented move, Queensland's law enforcement has taken aggressive action against small businesses by freezing assets under the guise of fighting illicit tobacco sales. This heavy-handed application of confiscation laws, deployed for the first time against alleged illicit tobacco sellers including an ex-Iraqi intelligence agent, raises serious concerns about the encroachment of government power on individual freedoms and the livelihoods of business owners. Critics argue that this could set a dangerous precedent for future interventions in the private sector.
Overreach by Queensland's Authorities in Raiding Small Businesses Over Alleged Illicit Tobacco
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Jan-29
Crime
Score: 0.50
Queensland's crime watchdog has wielded controversial confiscation laws against alleged sellers of illicit tobacco for the first time.
From ABC News (AU)
Jan-29
Crime
Left Variant
Score: 0.20
In a decisive action against the shadow economy, Queensland's crime authority has, for the first time, employed stringent asset confiscation laws to clamp down on the sale of illegal tobacco. This groundbreaking initiative not only disrupts the illegal trade that undermines public health but also reallocates ill-gotten gains towards community welfare programs. The crackdown has notably included actions against a former Iraqi intelligence agent, highlighting the stringent measures being taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Queensland's citizens.
From ABC News (AU)