Several illegal tobacco stores in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven have been shut down this week, including one in Kiama, under the NSW Government’s new laws targeting illicit tobacco and illegal vaping.

The stores have been closed immediately for 90 days, bringing the total number of stores shut to 24 since the tough new closure powers came into effect on 3 November.

While closing down the 10 stores this week, which also took place in the Riverina, NSW Health inspectors, with support from NSW Police, found and seized over 349,000 illicit cigarettes, close to 17 kg of other illicit tobacco products and almost 4600 illegal vapes.

Other stores in the Illawarra which have received closure orders are in Warrawong, Corrimal. Woonona and Wollongong.

Investigations are ongoing and further enforcement action including prosecution may take place.

“The operation this week across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Riverina is part of our ongoing efforts to disrupt the supply of illicit tobacco and illicit vaping goods to protect public health across NSW," Health Minister Ryan Park said.

“Since the new closure powers started in early November, we have closed 24 stores.

“This will take some time as we ramp up our closure activities, but this is just the beginning, and we want to reassure the community that we are targeting those retailers doing the wrong thing.

“My message to retails selling illicit tobacco or vapes is stop it now. If you’re doing the wrong thing, sooner or later we will come for you.”

NSW Health has been handed substantial powers to close premises selling illicit tobacco, illicit vaping goods or selling tobacco without a licence for up to 90 days.

The Local Court may, on application by the NSW Health Secretary, make a long-term closure order of up to 12 months if satisfied a relevant breach has occurred.

If an individual sells tobacco products, non-tobacco smoking products or vaping goods from closed premises they can be prosecuted and face a maximum penalty of up to:

• ·For a first offence: 6 months imprisonment, a fine of $137,500, or both
• For a subsequent offence: 12 months imprisonment, a fine of $275,000, or both

Factors that may be considered in determining the length of a closure order can include previous conduct of the business, the seriousness of the offence, or immediate and ongoing harm to the community.

From the start of this year until the end of October, NSW Health has conducted more than 1260 retailer inspections and seized more than 11.8 million cigarettes and over 2000kg of other illicit tobacco products and around 170,000 illegal vaping goods with a combined estimated street value of around $18.9 million.

During this period, the NSW Ministry of Health finalised 17 prosecutions with the courts imposing a total of $597,200 in fines related to illicit vaping and tobacco offences. There are currently 28 prosecutions inclusive of the District Court appeal before the Courts.

Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected breaches of tobacco retailing laws and the illegal sale of vaping goods on the NSW Health website.