Under the counter deals, 'chop-chop' and arson attacks: Inside Victoria's illegal tobacco market
ABCIt's the middle of the afternoon in an independent grocery store in Melbourne's outer suburbs and Nick* is standing behind the counter. "All the shops, like the fruit shop, the grocery shop, the tobacco shop, they sell this one," Nick says, referring to illegally imported cigarettes. Jenny*, who works at a major franchise tobacconist in a shopping strip in Melbourne's north, says illegal tobacco can be found "at every corner". "Even here alone, you've got three or four shops that's selling them, they're not typical tobacco shops, but they call themselves convenience stores, toy shops, even in some restaurants they are selling them," Jenny says. Billions lost in tax revenue to illegal tobacco trade The federal government is responsible for setting the price of the excise on tobacco, currently increasing an additional 5 per cent a year since September 2023.
History of this topic
Police push to outlaw purchase of illegal tobacco in SA, as raids net $1.5 million worth of product in regions
ABCTobacco stores firebombed in Adelaide as organised crime networks battle to control illicit trade
ABCAs another tobacco shop burns in Melbourne, government hands Border Force $188 million for tobacco crackdown
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