Melbourne tobacco shop owners choosing to pay council fines rather than risk arson attack

Fearful tobacco store owners are opting to pay a $384 council fine for selling illegal cigarettes rather than risk having their shop burnt to the ground by refusing to stock product pushed by criminal syndicates.

Tobacco retailers are choosing to stock illegal tobacco and cop small council fines rather than risk being blown up for refusing to stock illicit product pushed by criminal syndicates.

Tobacco shop owners, who have found themselves on the frontline of a war raging for control over the state’s illegal tobacco trade, are opting to be fined a couple of hundred dollars when council environmental health officers visit their stores.

Paying the fine is a far better outcome than refusing to stock a syndicate’s illicit smokes — a decision which could end with their store being burnt to the ground, sources say.

“It’s understandable why some shop owners choose to unwillingly participate in selling illicit tobacco and vapes to protect the safety of themselves, staff and families,” one industry source told the Herald Sun.

“If you’ve got the threat of being physically hurt or your business being torched versus paying a fine to the local council and protecting your safety… it’s understandable.

“With all due respect for the people handed this job, they’re being asked to interact with potentially serious criminal gangs.”

CCTV footage captures an arson attack on a Glenroy tobacco store in November. Picture: Supplied

The attack was part of a war over the state’s illegal tobacco trade. Picture: Supplied

Many of the illicit tobacco products shipped in from China and the Middle East fail to show the health warnings required in Australia.

The fine for failing to display the health warnings in Victoria is two penalty units, equating to $384.

Health department documents say the officers are rolled out to conduct “education” visits to stores.

The inspectors have the power to “inspect parts of the tobacco retail outlet that are open to the public” and “request the name and address of anyone they believe may have committed an offence”.

They can also examine the advertising behind the counter.

“Council workers don’t wear police uniforms — you’re looking at people walking in wearing a suit or cardigan — and they’re being asked to go up against people that stand to make a lot from a black market,” the source said.

A stolen car rammed into a tobacco store in Hadfield. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Herald Sun has also been told scores of council staff across town are “worried” about having to tell illicit tobacconists they were being checked.

This has prompted them to ask for further training and advice on how to deal with tobacconists — fearing “heavies” would again turn up at their homes days later.

“Council workers are so worried about the potential ramifications of enforcing these laws that they have sought advice from a senior former ABF official to help them deal with the stress,” the source added.

“This training has been sought out by local councils because the workers are so worried about the potential ramifications of going into a store and being subjected to potentially threatening behaviour when it comes to the illicit tobacco and vape trade.”

The Herald Sun in November revealed council staff had been threatened by organised criminals at their homes after visiting a store in the past.

Municipal Association of Victoria chief executive David Clark said council officers shouldn’t be the ones enforcing legislation to intimidating and hostile tobacconists.

“Illicit tobacco is primarily a tax and duty issue for the federal government and it only becomes a police issue when there is clear criminality involved, such as a turf war that results in firebombings,” he said at the time.