A MILE END man has been charged over the alleged theft of $30,000 worth of cigarettes from supermarkets in SA and Victoria.

The man, 33, was charged with two counts of theft by deception in relation to the alleged theft of cigarettes from supermarkets at Plympton and Kilkenny.

It's alleged the man posed as a tobacco company employee to dupe supermarket staff into allowing him to remove discontinued stock because of new plain packaging laws.

The man allegedly told staff he would return immediately with the new stock but failed to come back each time.

He has been bailed to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on January 23.

Originally published as Man charged over alleged cigarette scam