Police close first suspected illicit tobacco stores under Victoria's new powers
Police, along with Tobacco Licensing Victoria, raid and close four stores suspected of selling illicit tobacco in country Victoria.
Victoria Police have dismantled the first suspected illicit tobacco stores in country Victoria under a new set of powers aimed at tackling the illegal trade. At least four shops in Gippsland were raided and closed yesterday by Victoria Police's Viper Taskforce, in collaboration with Tobacco Licensing Victoria. The closures, which include three in the Latrobe Valley and one in Yarram, mark the first instances of such actions outside Melbourne and Geelong.
The new legislation, enacted on September 9, allows authorities to inspect and close stores suspected of selling illicit tobacco for a 90-day period. Bree Oliver, chief operating officer of Tobacco Licensing Victoria, explained that the Latrobe Valley was selected as the initial target due to intelligence indicating a significant supply of illicit tobacco in the region.
The yellow stickers posted on the store entrances warn of a 90-day closure and prohibit entry without an exemption. Tobacco sold illegally typically costs around $20 per pack, as opposed to the taxed price of about $50 for legal cigarettes. Many illicit tobacco shops have been associated with organized crime, often with offshore ties, in recent years.
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