Melbourne’s illegal tobacco bosses targeting suburbs with highest smoking rates

Just like any successful business, Melbourne’s illicit tobacco gangs do their market research before setting up their shops.

Tobacco crime gangs have astutely followed the money with the number of shops selling the illegal product soaring in areas where residents say they are smoking regularly.

The latest Cancer Council Victoria report crowns the metropolitan Local Government Areas (LGA) of Hume and Greater Dandenong as having the most number of people who smoke cigarettes.

A Herald Sun investigation can reveal those two electorates have more than 150 shops selling illicit tobacco between them.

Melton, Frankston and Port Phillip completed the top five metro areas, with the Herald Sun able to reveal there are 85 shops selling illicit tobacco in those locations

Cancer Council Victoria estimates there are 102,675 smokers in all five municipalities, meaning there is one shop for every 431 smokers.

“Highly sophisticated” illegal tobacco bosses are targeting smokers by suburb.

Dr James Martin, a senior lecturer of criminology at Deakin University, said tobacco gangs were “highly sophisticated operators”.

“Unfortunately, it’s not a surprise to see organised crime groups involved in the illicit tobacco trade targeting areas that have the greatest proportions of smokers,” he said.

“State-wide, illicit tobacco is worth hundreds of millions of dollars and the groups supplying it are highly sophisticated operators.”

He added: “ Just like pokies and fast-food companies, they do their market research and know better than anyone where to open shops to maximise illicit profits.”

The City of Yarra and Melbourne have the largest number of residents who vape, with the Herald Sun finding 72 shops selling illegal vaping products in just those two areas.

The tobacco wars have been raging in Victoria with about 115 firebombings since March last year.

Most targeted tobacco stores but gyms, cafes, reception centres and a vehicle repair garage have also been torched.

There have also been shootings and at least one person murdered, which is suspected of being linked to the illegal trade.

The issue forced Victoria Police to create Taskforce Lunar to tackle the illegal trade.

Lunar has made significant arrests of key players and heavy seizures of tobacco products, vapes and cash profits from the outlaw sector but the fires have continued.

The state government announced earlier this month new laws which will impose tight regulation with heavy penalties for those who sell illicit tobacco and vape products.

But experts predict the scheme will not have “boots on the ground” until 2026.

“Criminal syndicates recognise where the prime markets are and take advantage,” an industry insider said.

“Through the lack of any meaningful enforcement, poor policy and high excise, governments have created an environment where the sale and consumption of illicit tobacco and vape products is flourishing.”

He added: “Criminals are embedded in these communities and there is little to no hope of public health campaigns having any impact until obvious and practical action is taken.”