More than $80,000 worth of illegal tobacco, vapes seized during SA crackdown
A pricey haul of illegal products has been seized – mostly from one business – as a tough new crackdown begins.
SA News
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Authorities have seized more than $80,000 worth of illegal tobacco during the first month of a tough new crackdown on the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes in South Australia.
The majority of the haul was uncovered at a shop in Adelaide’s northeast.
That shop remains open as Consumer and Business Affairs, which assumed responsibility for the licensing and enforcement of tobacco and vapes on July 1 this year, continues to investigate.
Fines for selling illegal tobacco and vapes range from about $1200 for individuals for a minor breach, up to $50,000 per offence for major breaches.
Since July 1, CBS has inspected more than 130 premises across Adelaide, and carried out a series of raids in Adelaide’s northeast, seizing more than 75,000 illicit cigarettes and more than 30 kilograms of illegal tobacco products.
The department has received more than 100 tip-offs from the public in relation to criminal activity relating to illegal tobacco and vapes.
It came after the state government in May this year announced it was committing $16 million over four years to crackdown on the sale of dodgy tobacco and vapes.
The money will pay for 20 extra CBS officers to help stamp out the illicit practice.
CBS Commissioner Martyn Campbell said his department has wasted no time in zeroing in on illegal tobacco and he expects “a lot more” will be seized in the coming months.
“If you are a shop owner and you’re out there and you have illegal tobacco then there’s a high probability that we know who you are and that we’ll be coming at some point,” he said.
Mr Campbell said some of the illicit products were imported into Australia illegally while others were counterfeit items.
He urged people to avoid illicit tobacco and vape products as they could pose serious health risks, in addition to the known risks associated with smoking.
“We do not know where these were made, how they were made and what’s gone in them,” he said.
Mr Campbell said while counterfeit tobacco and vaping packing could often appear legitimate, upon closer inspection people might notice slight differences, such as a missing health warning.
He encouraged people to visit the CBS website if they were unsure about a product.
Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels said the government was committed to tackling the “significant public health threat” posed by illegal tobacco and vapes.
“We are taking the fight directly to those dodgy sellers and these raids show just how high a priority this is for our government,” she said.
To report illegal tobacco or vape dealers, visit cbs.sa.gov.au/tobacco.
Originally published as More than $80,000 worth of illegal tobacco, vapes seized during SA crackdown
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