Businesses in one Aussie state are being warned to take action now or risk steep fines of up to $854,000. Victoria is one of the last Aussie states to require any sort of licence to sell tobacco, but that is all about to change from February 1.
Retailers and wholesalers have less than two weeks to apply for a tobacco licence, with tough new penalties introduced for those who flout the rules. Supermarkets, convenience stories, liquor stores, petrol stations and even online retailers will need to apply.
Individuals caught selling tobacco without a licence face fines of up to $170,948 or up to five years in jail, while businesses can be fined $854,000.
Illicit tobacco sellers will be hit harder, with individuals facing $366,318 in fines or up to 15 years’ jail, and businesses risking penalties of more than $1.8 million.
Those that have already applied for a licence can continue to trade after February 1 while their application is assessed.
From that date, inspectors will be on the streets to check businesses are compliant.
Police seized 40,000 branded cigarettes and 185 vapes among hundreds of other items. Source: NSW Police
Million-dollar tobacco busts across Australia in the last week
On Monday in the Sydney suburb of Riverwood, more than $1.6 million worth of illegal tobacco and vape products were seized by authorities.
Officers seized 40,000 branded cigarettes, 601kg of molasses tobacco, 455 pouches of branded loose-leaf tobacco, 3.2 kg of unbranded loose-leaf tobacco, 499 packets of nicotine pouches, 185 branded vapes and 2,040 assorted cigarettes.
A 44-year-old man was arrested inside the warehouse before being charged with possessing a commercial quantity of vaping goods.
Last Friday, police seized $1 million in cash connected to an alleged illicit tobacco syndicate in Perth.
Three people were charged over their alleged roles, with homes, storage units and a tobacconist all searched by police.
A woman, 47, her father, 68, and son-in-law, 26, were arrested following the raids.
A tobacconist was closed for three months frm November 2025 after a crackdown by NSW Police. Source: AAP
(AAPIMAGE)
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