Six stores have been shut down and a haul of illegal cigarettes and vapes seized as Western Australia's tough new tobacco and vaping laws came into force last week.
The new legislation saw the closure of stores across Perth and regional WA, including one in Bunbury.
Over 140,000 illegal cigarettes, 5.2kgs of loose tobacco and 613 vapes were seized during inspections and raids carried out by WA Health’s Tobacco Compliance Unit and WA Police.
Under the legislation, WA Health can issue closure orders to businesses found selling or storing illicit tobacco and vaping products.
The stores are posted publicly on the Department of Health's website.
Stores temporarily shut down by the Department of Health. PIC: Department of Health
The maximum penalty for possession of a large commercial quantity of illicit tobacco and vaping products is $4.2 million for an individual or $21 million for a company, and 15 years imprisonment.
The reforms are aimed at disrupting organised criminal activity linked to the illicit tobacco and vape trade.
Seized illegal cigarettes. PIC: Department of Health
“If anyone is ignoring our new laws, then let these first days of action be a message to you - If you’re selling or storing illicit tobacco in Western Australia, you will be caught and your store will be shut down through these new closure order powers," Police Minister Reece Whitby said.
“These new laws, designed to hit criminal operations hard, are already delivering results, seizing tobacco, cigarettes, and vapes while stopping stores from re-opening the next day."
Anyone with information about the sale of illicit tobacco or vapes is encouraged to report it to WA Health or anonymously via Crime Stoppers.
Six stores in Perth and regional WA have been issued closure orders. PIC: Department of Health
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