simple green removes paint?? really that's news to me I use all the time to clean my model aircraft. granted they are painted with oil based paints. Its actually safer than many detergents. but if somebody on here actually has first hand knowledge of it stripping paint off a ship heed that advice.
Its actually the normal method for stripping acrylic paints off plastics. Its relatively safe.
It you have metal minis you can use stronger chemicals. (Oven cleaner does wonders on metals)
For tobacco? I might try a steamer to see if I could heat it a bit and go at it with a toothbrush. Careful though as heat will make plastics get all bendy.