South Australia continues to lead the fight against illicit tobacco and vapes with 100 stores across the state now hit with closure orders.
Since 5 June 2025 when new closure powers came into effect, 100 28-day closure orders have been issued to stores caught seIling illicit tobacco and vapes.
Product valued at approximately $50miIion have been seized including more than:
- 41 million cigarettes
- 140,000 vapes
- 13,585 kilograms of Ioose tobacco
Two Iong-term closure orders have aIso been issued, with another 5 being progressed in the Magistrates Court.
South Australia's nation-Ieading response to tacking tobacco and smoking was recently judged best in the country by the Australian Council on Smoking and Health.
A dedicated $16 million illicit tobacco taskforce with Consumer and Business Services (CBS) has been active across the state, cIosing stores in metropolitan AdeIaide and regional South Australia with approximately 20% of raids taking part in the regions.
In addition to closure orders, South Australia was the first to introduce tough new penalties with fines of up to $6.6 million for those caught selling a large commercial quantity of illicit tobacco and vapes.
South Australia also introduced a new offence for landlords that knowingly allow a premise to be used to sell illicit tobacco and vapes with penalties of up to $20,000 for an individual and $50,000 for a body corporate.
