Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco: Four Shops Shut Down in Gippsland

Authorities have raided and closed the first suspected illegal tobacco stores in regional Victoria under new powers to crack down on the illicit trade. Victoria Police raided and shut at least four shops yesterday in Gippsland.

Stores raided and closed

The first stores suspected of selling illicit tobacco in country Victoria have been closed under new powers designed to curtail the sector. Victoria Police's Viper Taskforce, alongside Tobacco Licensing Victoria, raided the stores yesterday, posting yellow stickers on the door advising of the closures.

More than 60 stores have now been closed, including at least four in Gippsland yesterday. The authority closed three stores across Moe and Newborough in the Latrobe Valley and one in Yarram. The closures are the first outside Melbourne and Geelong.

"We verify that intelligence and obviously use that intelligence to identify where are our priorities, where are the targets, where does it make the most sense"

Tobacco Licensing Victoria chief operating officer Bree Oliver said the authority chose the Latrobe Valley as its first country target because of tip-offs suggesting a high concentration of illicit tobacco.

"We verify that intelligence and obviously use that intelligence to identify where are our priorities, where are the targets, where does it make the most sense," Ms Oliver said. "Where will we have the biggest impact and clearly the Latrobe Valley is a site where the supply of illicit tobacco is considerable."

Monitoring premises and potential penalties

The yellow notices posted to the stores' entrance give a reopening date and state that no one can enter the premises unless an exemption is granted.

"We will be monitoring those premises should they open up again and we'll take action," Ms Oliver said.

Ms Oliver said the authority could issue an additional short-term closure notice or apply to the Magistrates' Court for a long-term order.

Illicit tobacco trade

Cigarettes sold illegally usually retail for about $20 a pack and have not been taxed, compared with about $50 for legal cigarettes. In recent years, many illicit tobacco shops have been linked to organised crime, often with offshore leaders.