Illicit tobacco crackdown: Six Melbourne stores forced to shut down

Melbourne's crackdown on illicit tobacco sales has led to the closure of six stores across two suburbs, with inspectors wielding new powers to shut down offending retailers.

Three stores in Footscray and three in Richmond have been issued with closure notices by Tobacco Licensing Victoria inspectors, in a move described as the first of "many to come" across the state.

The closures, which can last up to 90 days, come after new laws came into effect allowing police and inspectors to shut down stores selling illicit tobacco products. Long-term closures can be pursued through the courts for repeated breaches.

Strict penalties for non-compliance

Tobacco Licensing Victoria chief operating officer Bree Oliver said the agency would ensure premises remained closed, with penalties for those who disturbed closure stickers. "Certainly there's lots to do," she said. "We'll be making sure that premises remain closed. Where stickers are disturbed, we'll be holding the people that disturb those stickers to account and there are penalties for that."

Oliver warned that shops found to be selling illicit tobacco products could face penalties of up to $2.5 million or 20 years in jail if they reopened.

Public tips leading to further action

Oliver said the agency had received tips from members of the public about vendors selling illicit tobacco products, which were then being followed up by inspectors. "Where we are aware that there is ongoing suspicion of illicit activity, we'll of course be taking further action, collecting further evidence and assessing whether an additional closure notice period is warranted," she said.

The agency will list closed businesses on its website from next week.

Opposition vows to take tougher stance

The Victorian Opposition has pledged to "bolster laws, put more inspectors on the beat and close down retailers who break the law" if elected in November. Shadow Minister for Liquor and Gaming Tim McCurdy said the government had lost control of the tobacco black market.

"Labor governments, state and federal, have been saying the same thing for years: they're taking this seriously, they're cracking down, they're closing the net," he said. "Meanwhile, organised crime gangs are firebombing their way across our state almost daily, and nothing changes."

"That is not a crackdown, that is a government talking while criminals act. Labor has had years and countless opportunities to fix this, and the crisis has only gotten worse," McCurdy said.