The state's illicit taskforce within Consumer and Business Services (external site) have seized more than $1.2 million worth of illegal tobacco and vapes during raids on multiple businesses in the mid-north, Yorke Peninsula and West Coast.
The operation, which was supported by SAPOL (external site)'s Operation Eclipse, was conducted from 1-4 December and resulted in 17 short-term closure orders being issued to stores in Moonta, Wallaroo, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Whyalla and Port Lincoln, with investigations ongoing.
More than 52,000 packets of cigarettes, more than 136,000 cigarette tubes, nearly 6000 vapes and 73kg of loose tobacco were seized with:
- illicit product worth approximately $869,000 seized in Port Lincoln
- approximately $260,000 worth seized in Whyalla
- approximately $70,000 worth seized in Port Augusta, and
- approximately $50,000 worth seized from stores on Yorke Peninsula.
Stores to be hit with closure orders were:
- three in Port Lincoln (including Smoke King and American Candy)
- five in Whyalla (including Topz Shopz Deli and Whyalla Gifts and Accessories)
- two in Port Augusta (Shop 360 and Smoke Shop)
- three in Port Pirie (Port Pirie Gifts and Accessories, Port Pirie Convenience and Smoke Dream)
- four on the Copper Cost (Smoke Accessories and Gifts, Kadina Gift and Accessories, Wallaroo Gift House and Good n Cheap).
South Australia has led the way in the response to the illicit tobacco trade in Australia, recently judged as best in the nation by the Australian Council on Smoking and Health (external site), with tough new penalties and closure orders.
The State Government invested $16 million to create a dedicated illicit tobacco taskforce, which has been relentlessly raiding businesses and shutting down stores across the state with more than $50 million worth of product seized and 100 closure orders to date.
The taskforce has been active right across the state closing stores in metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia with approximately 20 per cent of raids taking part in the regions.
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