62 illicit tobacco shops closed - none in regional Victoria

THE sun is up, the sky is blue and the front doors of hundreds of illicit tobacco shops across regional Victoria are open and doing a roaring trade, so far untouched by the State Government’s so-called crackdown the illegal trade in contraband cigarettes and vapes.

So far, in the first month of the campaign, kicked off on September 9, 2026, the government’s taskforce involving the Victoria Police VIPER Taskforce and Tobacco Licensing Victoria (TLV) have issued temporary closure orders on 62 stores linked to organised crime caught selling illicit tobacco in four weeks.

None of them in regional Victoria, and certainly not in Bass Coast and South Gippsland where they remain the busiest little shops in main streets and arcades.

But the taskforce is coming they say.

The new enforcement powers came into effect on September 9 under the Tobacco Act 1987 which allows TLV and Victoria Police to issue 90-day closure notices to any store found to be selling illicit tobacco.

Since that date, the two agencies have closed 62 stores linked to organised crime and seized over two million illicit cigarettes, over 40,000 vapes, over 120kg of loose tobacco and over $500,000 cash.

The operation is statewide but so far the VIPER and TLV have only visited stores in Deer Park, Geelong, South Geelong, Corio, Thomson, Werribee, Colac, Forrest, Footscray, Lalor and across the inner metro area.

There’s still between 1000 and 1600 shops to go, and at this rate it will take upwards of a year and a half to visit them all, by which time, many of them will have served their three-month temporary closure orders.

The government also has the power to seek court orders, in the Magistrate Court, and close them permanently but despite catching the operators in the act, with illicit tobacco on the premises, in the act of selling it, no such orders have been issued.

While making a special effort not to criticise police, Gippsland South MP Danny O’Brien said last week the efforts by the Carroll Labor Government to “slam the door” on Victoria’s part in the $4 billion to $7 billion annual trade for organised crime was “too slow, too weak and too easy to beat”

“Labor’s efforts to tackle illegal tobacco and the organised crime behind it are too slow, too weak and too easy to beat,” Mr O’Brien said this week.

“This isn’t a crackdown, it’s a token effort.

“An elected Nationals and Liberal Government will bolster laws and close down retailers who break the law so Victorians can see real results, not spin.”

The taskforce’s efforts will continue across the state in the coming weeks and eventually, they’ll be coming to a town near you – but it might not be for another 12 months.

The VIPER Taskforce, they say, is specifically targeting illicit tobacco stores linked to organised crime, including syndicates with offshore leaders.

“The VIPER model is dynamic and agile, allowing members the flexibility to pivot quickly and execute search warrants at stores outside of normal business hours and on weekends.

“The operation is being assisted by detectives from the Criminal Proceeds Squad with a view to identifying proceeds of crime and ultimately debanking offending entities from the Australian financial system.”

If a store is caught selling illicit tobacco, a yellow closure sticker is affixed to the store front detailing the 90-day closure. It is an offence to remove the sticker or to then operate the closed business.

Detective Inspector Anthony Gasparini, VIPER Taskforce said officers would arrive in an area at short notice.

“Organised criminals are driven only by greed and have no regard for the harm they reap on individuals, families and our community. There is no doubt these profits derived from the sale of illicit tobacco would be used to fund further criminal activities,” he said.

“Alongside our partner agencies, we will continue removing their ill-gotten gains and dismantle their ability to create further opportunities to cause harm.

“We will deploy resources throughout the state at short notice including outside of business hours and on weekends. If you’re selling illicit tobacco, you can expect to see our VIPER members or our partner agencies come through your door.”

Chief Operating Officer Tobacco Licensing Victoria Bree Oliver said the taskforce would be coming to a shopping centre near you soon.

“This crackdown on illicit tobacco is shutting down illegitimate businesses across the state and bringing tough penalties to those who break the law.

“Tobacco Licensing Victoria continues to monitor and adapt, working closely with Victoria Police, broader law enforcement agencies and regulatory partners to share information and intelligence and target illicit tobacco.

“All our inspection and enforcement action is guided by intelligence, risk assessment and operational priorities.”