Retailer flogs illegal tobacco just days after being raided

Premier Chris Minns expressed support for an opposition plan to enforce harsher penalties and give NSW Health more power in the battle against illegal tobacco.

The Daily Telegraph first revealed the illicit cigarettes for sale in Seaforth last month. Picture: Supplied

Premier Chris Minns has signalled support for tougher action against illegal tobacco sellers, warning that NSW must avoid becoming a safe haven for criminal syndicates as neighbouring states increase enforcement.

Minns acknowledged recent calls from Opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane for stronger measures and claimed they deserve serious consideration, noting it would be a mistake to dismiss proposals simply because they come from the Opposition.

The NSW Coalition announced on Monday a Bill to crack down on criminals and make NSW the hardest place in Australia to sell illegal tobacco and vapes.

Under the plan the bill would further increase the penalties for the sale of illicit tobacco, including prison sentences of up to seven years for serious offending or a $1.5 million fine.

Provide NSW Health with the power to issue closure orders for businesses selling illicit tobacco and vapes for up to one month.

Premier Chris Minn’s warns NSW must avoid becoming a safe haven for criminal syndicates as neighbouring states increase enforcement. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

It would also provide magistrates with the power to issue closure order for businesses selling illicit tobacco and vapes for up to 12 months.

“We’d be silly to just reject an idea because it comes from the Opposition,” Mr Minns told 2GB.

Kellie Sloane urged for stronger measures and tougher crackdowns on the Tobacco black market. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

“My big fear is that if you have a massive zero tolerance approach and a larger police presence in Queensland, then not only will NSW have whatever illegal tobacco problems we have in our state, we’ll also have it coming over the border as people flee that jurisdiction.”

His comments come as The Daily Telegraph revealed a Sydney retailer has resumed selling illegal tobacco products despite being raided by authorities just days earlier.

“We’re trying to attack it when it comes to the tax issue from the feds, although I haven’t had a lot of progress there, if I’m going to be honest but there’s more that needs to be done,” Minn’s said on 2GB.

“A packet of 20 cigarettes has gone from $16 to $28 and all of that is in tax, this is the only tax in the world that’s doubled, and yet the revenue has halved.”

NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman with Kellie Sloane and Robb Evans. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“I want to have a situation, if we’re deploying police to get to a position where we’re closing down this terrible black market, we’re not just creating another vendor down the road, because the program is so lucrative.”

Secret checks on Monday of the store at Seaforth discovered a dozen different varieties of cheap, illicit cigarettes available without the mandatory plain packaging. The business was also selling illegal vaping products and nicotine pouches.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the business was targeted in joint action between NSW Health bureaucrats and police only last week. During the operation across a range of venues on the Northern Beaches – authorities seized 3000 illegal vapes, 10 kilograms of loose leaf tobacco products and 90,000 illicit cigarettes. The estimated street value was more than $175,000.

NSW Health declined to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings against the venues involved in the raids.

How The Daily Telegraph first reported on the illicit tobacconist:

It comes as the Minns Government prepares to roll out tougher restrictions on the sale of nicotine products on July 1.

From Tuesday, all retailers and suppliers will need to apply for a license to sell tobacco. An initial grace period expires in October.

Health Minister Ryan Park said the scheme will “help clean out bad actors in NSW’s tobacco market”.

“Under this new scheme, you’ll need to actively seek permission to sell tobacco, and if we find you’ve got a history of doing the wrong thing, the government’s got the power to say no,” Mr Park said.

Labor is yet to formally reveal if it will support the new proposal from Shadow Health Minister Kellie Sloane, first revealed by The Sunday Telegraph, which will shut down illegal tobacco traders for a month and allow landlords to cancel their leases. It’s understood the government will await the full details of the legislation.

Currently NSW Health is relying on a little more than 20 compliance officers to monitor the tobacco black market across the entire state.

Upper House MP Rod Roberts has called for “multifaceted taskforce in which NSW Health staff work with police” to clean-up the illicit tobacco trade.

“The NSW Police Force currently regulates security licences and tattoo parlours, among other things. They have criminal analysts and access to intelligence and a number of resources around organised crime” Mr Roberts told parliament last week.

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Originally published as Retailer flogs illegal tobacco just days after being raided