07/11/2024
Raids in regional South Australia have netted more than $1.5 million in illicit tobacco products as the South Australian Government crackdown on illicit tobacco and vaping continues – as total seizures surpass $5 million across the state.
Consumer and Business Services has conducted close to 20 inspections of both licenced and unlicensed businesses in the state’s Mid North and Yorke Peninsula over the past few weeks with 17 per cent of our raids since July 1 taking place in the regions.
The inspections resulted in the seizure of nearly 470,000 cigarettes (including cartons, packets, and cigarette tubes filled with illicit tobacco), nearly 150 kilograms of pouch tobacco and a small number of vapes and shisha products.
The illicit tobacco and vapes, all of which was seized from unlicensed stores, was valued at approximately $450,000.
SA Police has also been out in regional South Australia including seizing tobacco inside trucks at Tailem Bend, Monteith and Port Augusta in the past week.
The three seizures resulted in more than $1 million of loose tobacco, cigarettes and vapes meant for sale in SA being kept off the streets.
The truck located in Port Augusta also contained tobacconist signage, shop fittings, price lists for displays with Operation Eclipse detectives believing the contents were to establish a “pop-up’’ shop.
Since July 1, more than $5 million in illicit tobacco and vapes have now been seized by authorities.
Last week, the Malinauskas Government passed its nation-leading penalties in relation to the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes with penalties of up to $1.5 million.
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