Illicit cigarettes and illegal vapes seized
Two St Leonards tobacconists were slapped with temporary closure orders from 4 November until 2 February 2026 under the NSW Government’s new tobacco laws aimed at cracking down on illegal tobacco and vapes.
The haul from two tobacconists was 3,860 illicit cigarettes and 224 illegal vapes. The premises are at St Leonards Tobacconist (16 Pacific Highway) and TSG (201 Pacific Highway).
NSW Health can make a closure order of up to 90 days for premises selling illicit tobacco, illegal vaping goods, or selling tobacco without a licence. It can also apply for closure up to 12 months.
“This is just the beginning,” warned NSW Minister for Health, Ryan Park. “More (closures) will follow. If you’re doing the wrong thing, sooner or later we will come for you.”
North Shore MP Felicity Wilson told NL that ‘urgent action was needed.’
“Australia’s success in reducing smoking rates in recent decades is under threat from illegal tobacco and vapes, and that’s creating significant health risks for our community,” said Ms Wilson. “Add to that the links between illegal tobacco operations and organised crime, and we are in a situation where urgent action needs to be taken to crack down on illegal tobacco and vaping.
“More still needs to be done to ensure these criminal networks are dismantled and our community is kept safe.”
The government announced a new offence on 11 November for landlords who knowingly allow their premises to be used to sell illicit tobacco and illegal vapes. An offence could mean a year in jail, a $165,000 fine – or both.
Selling illegal tobacco under the counter has become an attractive proposition for those who wish to circumnavigate high tobacco taxes, which has made Australian cigarettes some of the priciest in the world. Ms Wilson said people needed to be careful when calling for change to regulations which could undermine the current system.
“I understand the reasoning behind (such discussions) with the much lower price point of illegal tobacco,” Ms Wilson said. “But allowing criminals to determine the market price of tobacco is not the solution. We need strong, coordinated action that supports public health, upholds the law, and protects our local communities.”
From January to October 2025, 1,260 retailers across NSW were inspected, and over 11.8 million cigarettes were seized. Around 170,000 illegal vaping goods with a combined estimated street value of $19 million were also confiscated.
