Insider says: ‘The issue they are scrutinising is right in front of their noses’

Hundreds of shops selling illicit tobacco or banned vapes are operating in the electorates of nine Victorian MPs who have launched an inquiry into vaping and tobacco controls.

Almost 500 shops are selling illicit tobacco or banned vapes in the electorates of the MPs who have formed a committee to investigate the illegal trade.

The public accounts and ­estimates committee (PAEC), which is made up of nine MPs, launched an inquiry into vaping and tobacco controls in February.

A Herald Sun analysis can reveal that at least 463 shops sell the contraband vapes or loose-leaf tobacco known as chop chop in those nine political areas alone.

Sarah Connolly, the Labor member for Laverton who chairs the PAEC, has 25 illicit retailers operating in her 87.4sq km electorate – one every 3.5km.

PAEC chair Sarah Connolly has 25 illicit retailers in her electorate.

Almost the same can be said for the deputy chairman Nick McGowan, the Liberal member for North East Metropolitan region.

He has 124 illicit tobacco outlets in his 509sq km district, which works out to be one every 4km.

An Indian grocery store, just two doors from the electorate office of Meng Heang Tak – the Labor member for Clarinda, who is also on the committee – sold the ­Herald Sun a packet of illegal Manchester cigarettes for $25 from under the counter.

An Indian grocery store sells illicit tobacco two doors down from Meng Heang Tak’s office in Clayton South. Picture: David Crosling

A key part of the PAEC probe is looking at “the causes and repercussions of the illicit tobacco and e-cigarette industry … including impacts on the Victorian justice system, and effective control options.”

It will also look at ways to “control illicit trade compared to other Australian and international jurisdictions”.

An industry insider welcomed the inquiry but questioned the expense and delay in taking action.

“The illicit tobacco trade has been on the rise for the past decade, we’ve had inquiry after inquiry, report after ­report,” he said.

“We know what the issues are, but we need action urgently to address it. (Premier) Jacinta Allan said in March the state government will ­introduce a licensing scheme – a key component of what this inquiry is looking at – but presumably nothing will be done until after this report is filed at the end of the year.

“It just doesn’t cut it.”

The industry figure added: “May I suggest the committee members fast-track the process by simply walking out of their electorate offices? The issue they are scrutinising is right in front of their noses. It’s literally on their doorstep.”

The Herald Sun last month revealed crime gangs now sold one third of smoke products in Australia.

Victoria Police said there were about 1100 tobacco stores in the state and most of them sold illegal products.

This number does not include supermarkets, service stations, pubs and bottleshops.

Syndicates such as those run by exiled gangland boss Kaz Hamad have been fighting for control of the lucrative market, prompting an unprecedented wave of store firebombings.

It is understood there have been more than 73 cases of arson linked to the illicit tobacco trade since March last year. More than 50 were on smoke businesses or vape stores while the rest targeted gyms, cafes, reception centres and other businesses linked to the rival crime groups.

They continued as recently as last week with tobacco shops torched at Ararat and Cohuna, in regional Victoria.

Another issue has been the increasing number of ram-raids and robberies at convenience stores and supermarkets that sell smokes.

In some cases teenagers are being engaged by older criminals to steal the cigarettes for the black market.

The rate of offending has resulted in shops upgrading their security with steel bars and bollards to repel thieves wanting to drive stolen cars through the front.

The committee formed the inquiry on February 5 and is expected to report its findings by November 30.

So far it has held two hearings with another scheduled for Monday.