Authorities in South Australia have seized more than $1 million worth of illicit tobacco and vapes in their largest operation to date.
Consumer and Business Services’ (CBS) illicit tobacco taskforce raided a store in Adelaide’s northern suburbs this week, confiscating approximately 548,000 cigarettes, nearly 12,000 vapes, and more than 500 containers of nicotine pouches.
The seizure is the most significant since the state government allocated $16 million to the taskforce on July 1, 2024, to combat the illicit tobacco trade. The agency has applied for a long-term closure order, which, if granted by the Magistrates Court, could see the store shut for up to six months.
The taskforce has also conducted recent operations in regional South Australia, including the Murraylands and Adelaide Hills, where officers seized more than 200,000 cigarettes, 50kg of loose tobacco, and nearly 850 vapes valued at more than $225,000.
Authorities say the crackdown is part of broader efforts to combat organised crime, which is estimated to control 75 per cent of Australia’s illicit tobacco market. CBS has been working with South Australia Police’s Operation Eclipse, as well as Border Force and the Therapeutic Goods Administration, to remove illegal products from circulation.
Penalties for selling illicit tobacco and vapes in South Australia have also increased, with fines now reaching up to $1.5 million.
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