Victoria’s crackdown on the illicit tobacco trade has claimed its first major milestone.
Across the state, 100 stores have been ordered to close as part of sweeping new powers provided to Tobacco Licensing Victoria (TLV) and Victoria Police last month.
Now roughly one per cent of Victorian stores peddling illegal cigarettes have been temporarily shut, with millions of cigarettes and thousands of vapes seized by authorities.
As part of exclusive access behind the scenes of the operation, the Herald Sun was granted the first look at TLV and VIPER Taskforce members raiding stores and issuing closure orders across the state.
Footage shows retailers stashing cartons of illegal cigarettes under the counter and in the backrooms of shopfronts.
Among the products seized by the TLV and VIPER included popular black market brands such as Manchester, Double Happiness and Camel.
Earlier this month, Victoria Police said they were targeting illicit tobacco stores with links to organised crime, including those with associations to tobacco kingpin Kaz Hamad.
A TLV spokesperson said the milestone sent a “clear message” to illegal operators, adding that more enforcement action should be expected.
“Reaching 100 closures in just six weeks shows Tobacco Licensing Victoria and Victoria Police are making full use of their strong new powers to disrupt the illicit tobacco trade,” the spokesperson said.
They added dodgy retailers faced tough penalties for tampering with closure notices or businesses that continue operating from closed premises.
Just removing a closure order notice can result in a hefty fine worth over $25,000.
“We are monitoring closed premises, and we have serious penalties we can impose on those breaching closure orders,” they said.
“We encourage people concerned about suspicious activity to make a report on the Tobacco Licensing Victoria website.
The TLV have made it clear that where there is suspicion and evidence of ongoing trade at closed stores, all options including further closure orders were being considered, including charges of up to 20 years in jail and $2.5m in fines.
At their current rate, the TLV is issuing short-term closure orders to just over two stores per day since the powers were enacted early last month.
Not only are the TLV targeting shopfronts, but members are also targeting vehicles suspected of storing illicit products.
A Hyundai van parked at Karingal Hub shopping centre in Frankston became the first car to be raided and ordered to close earlier this month.
The car was raided the same day as a Cignall store at Karingal Hub was issued a closure order.
Just last week, police arrested two men who were alleged to have been selling vapes and cigarettes out of a vehicle in a Werribee carpark.
Officers were called to the vehicle parked on Shaws Rd about 11.45am on October 16.
Two men, aged 18 and 20-years-old, were arrested at the scene and police seized the vapes and cigarettes stashed in the vehicle.
The pair were charged with possessing proceeds of crime and possession of a commercial quantity of illicit tobacco.
They are bailed to appear before the Wyndham Law Courts on December 10.
Extracted in full from: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/victoria-police-shut-100-illegal-tobacco-stores-as-sweeping-crackdown-targets-black-market/news-story/950a51280c129cb0f3cddf502706f412
