Seven Northern NSW Retailers Shut in Tobacco, Vape Crackdown
Seven retailers in Lismore and Casino were closed for 90 days as NSW Health and Police seized over $1 million in illicit tobacco and vapes.Summary
Seven retailers across Lismore and Casino in Northern NSW have been shut for 90 days following targeted operations by NSW Health and NSW Police to disrupt the supply of illicit tobacco and vapes. During the operations on 3 and 4 November, inspectors seized over 857,400 illicit cigarettes, approximately 87.75 kg of loose-leaf tobacco, and more than 3,600 illicit vapes, with an estimated combined street value exceeding $1 million. Further investigations and possible prosecutions will follow. The NSW Government has introduced some of the toughest penalties in the country, including fines of over $1.5 million and up to 7 years' imprisonment for commercial quantities of illicit tobacco, as well as short-term (up to 90 days) and long-term (up to 12 months) closure orders for premises selling illicit tobacco, illegal vaping goods, or tobacco without a licence. New offences also target those who breach closure orders and landlords who knowingly permit illicit sales. Since the new powers came into effect in November 2025, NSW Health has issued 523 short-term closure orders, with 123 in force as of 30 October 2026. Since 1 January 2026, authorities have seized nearly 16 million illicit cigarettes, over 2.5 tonnes of illicit tobacco, and approximately 161,000 vapes. Officials emphasized that these products undermine public health efforts and that enforcement will continue against those doing the wrong thing.
(Source：Mirage News)
