Dozens of illicit tobacco stores closed as authorities seize $23m in tobacco, vapes, and six tonnes of leaf

Dozens of SA illicit tobacco stores closed, more than 500 raids, six tonnes of loose leaf found – SA’s crackdown has hit staggering new figures. See the list.

Huge quantities of illicit cigarettes and vapes worth more than $23m have been seized in South Australia since July in a government crackdown on the illegal trade.

The government said its illicit tobacco task force had now conducted more than 500 raids, in partnership with SA Police and other agencies, seizing 17.2m cigarettes – the equivalent of 9.5 cigarettes for every South Australian resident.

More than 105,000 vapes were seized – almost enough to fill two Adelaide Ovals if each was given a seat – in addition to 2.3m cigarette tubes, 834 nicotine pouches and six tonnes of loose tobacco.

One fifth of the raids, representing $4m of the seized products, were in regional South Australia.

In the same period, Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels issued 33 short 72-hour closures of illicit tobacco stores and two six-month closures in Salisbury North and Hackham West.

Adelaide CBD stores were the most closed down with six short-term closures, followed by Port Lincoln with three.

CCTV of a tobacco store firebombing at Cowandilla. Picture: Supplied

More than $23m worth of illegal tobacco and vape products have been seized since July as part of a government crackdown. Picture: Elizabeth Henson

Legislation was changed last year to give the minister authority to close tobacco shops suspected of selling illegal products for 72 hours and apply to a magistrate to order a six-month closure.

The new figures have already risen significantly since The Advertiser obtained information in late April revealing the government had conducted 394 raids across 152 suburbs since July.

Most of the raided premises were located in the Adelaide CBD with 30 searches, followed by Mount Barker (12) and Mount Gambier (12), then Salisbury East (11), Elizabeth (11) and Port Augusta (11).

In March, The Advertiser revealed organised crime syndicates that supply tobacco stores are pocketing several million dollars every month, while illicit shops on average earn between $900,000 and $1.3 million a month.

The illicit tobacco trade has soared amid the cost-of-living crisis. Organised criminal syndicates have exploited addiction by selling illicit tobacco at a lower price, undercutting the legal market.

October 2024: Smoker Sharon van Homelen at a firebombed tobacco store where she said she saves money by purchasing unregulated tobacco products. Picture: Brenton Edwards

A 20-pack of under-the-counter pack of ciggies sells for as little as $15, compared to $50 from a legal outlet.

In September, SAPOL formed special taskforce Operation Eclipse after the state experienced six arson attacks across two months suspected of being related to the illicit trade.

In April, the taskforce had made 33 arrests and searched 47 residential properties, 122 business premises and 14 storage facilities.

The state government has recently introduced some of the harshest penalties in Australia for anyone found guilty of supplying or possessing “commercial” and “large commercial” quantities of prohibited tobacco products, including a fine of up to $2.1m for a first offence and $4.2m for a second offence.

Businesses face an initial fine of up to $4.5m and then $6.6m for further offences.

Originally published as Dozens of illicit tobacco stores closed as authorities seize $23m in tobacco, vapes, and six tonnes of leaf