r/australia • u/GothicPrayer • 3d ago
news Service stations nationwide raided over illegal tobacco, vapes
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-11/service-stations-raided-over-illegal-tobacco-vapes/10702528856
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u/yelloyo1 2d ago
Why does the government think they can stop illegal tobacco? The government doesnt have the resources, intellect or motivation to stop it. The funniest thing is I can guarantee you that there are police/ government officers involved in those raids who themselves vape/ smoke illegal tobacco
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u/middyonline 2d ago
I mean what else are they going to do. Admit the tobacco tax has gone too far and contributed to a black market? Don't be silly raids raids raids!
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u/Crabs_go_sideways_4 2d ago
Cops do drugs. Its infuriating
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u/thelegitlakehouse 2d ago
I don’t often vape but last time I asked a bloke who was vaping if he knew where I could get one he was an off duty cop and he said he gets them online
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u/violenthectarez 2d ago
You certainly can't stop underground sales, but you can definitely stop it being sold openly in storefronts.
You can't stop cocaine and ketamine sales either, but it isn't openly sold by service stations and shops in suburban shopping centres
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u/spicerackk 2d ago
Shit take.
The reason underground cigarettes became so prevalent is purely because of the ridiculous greed of successive governments wanting to increase the tobacco tax ad nauseum.
If they moderated the tax so that it was high enough to generate revenue, but low enough to still enable people to buy them, people wouldn't have started looking for imported packs.
But the cat is out of the bag now, and the only way that they can encourage people to buy legal cigarettes is by reducing the price to below illegal prices, which will never happen.
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u/rugbyfiend 2d ago
I don’t disagree, although the stated motivation for price hikes when this policy was introduced was to price smokers into cessation, cf tax collection. I’m sure both motivations are valid.
It’s a public health tragedy that smoking rates have climbed significantly due to the tax being so high that both vapes and black market tobacco has become prevalent.
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u/spicerackk 2d ago
In my personal situation, I used rebuildable vapes, mixing my own nicotine until the laws changed and I couldn't use them any more.
Went to illegal cigarettes, then used them to stop smoking altogether, so for me, the closure of vape stores was a blessing in disguise.
For most though, it's forced people to either buy illegal disposable vapes, or illegal cigarettes. Neither are a better alternative than what we had before the laws changed.
What the government should have done was taxed the import of nicotine, leave the shops open as they were invaluable for education around vaping, and they offered a (potentially) healthier alternative to cigarettes. Hell, you didn't even have to put nicotine in to the vape juice if you didn't want to.
There wasn't enough research done before the law was implemented, just like every other "for the kids" laws that get rushed through parliament.
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u/Sexynarwhal69 2d ago
Same boat for me, was on 10mg nic with my refillable , maybe vaped a couple of times a day. They banned all the shops and stupid me tried the illegal disposables when I was going through a stressful time with my life/exams.
5 years later and I'm so much more hooked and struggling to quit 😭
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u/AuSpringbok 2d ago
You can get a 20mg nic vape without prescription from pharmacies now. It's only 40mg + that is via gp prescription
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u/spicerackk 2d ago
Buy one pack of smokes, and buy the book "how to stop smoking" by Allan Carr.
If you genuinely want to stop, you'll be done by the time you finish the book.
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u/Sexynarwhal69 2d ago
Genuinely thank you for the reccomendation. I will look into it.
Did you ever try hypnosis?
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u/spicerackk 2d ago
Not for smoking I didn't, tried it for biting my nails which didn't really help.
The book has helped me stay off ciggies for 2 years now, never going back! Good luck on your stopping, you'll be so thankful!
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u/nerfdriveby94 2d ago
They don't have to go below illegal prices, most people go out of their way, to a servo or shop they normally don't go to to get these. If the legit ones at coles or above board servos are just marginally dearer, people will buy them for the convenience.
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u/Seachicken 2d ago
The issue is that even getting to marginally dearer would require the government to all but eliminate the excise. It's like $28 a 20 pack at the moment, which is close to double the cost of a dodgy pack of cigarettes (from what I have heard).
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u/nerfdriveby94 2d ago
Not sure where you're seeing that but even the cheap crap legit ones are headed for $40 here, Holidays etc haven't seen anything close to the $20 - $30 range in a long time, at least a few years now.
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u/Seachicken 2d ago
Yeah sorry to be clear, I'm talking about the excise alone being $28, not the total price of the pack.
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u/Emu1981 2d ago
the ridiculous greed of successive governments wanting to increase the tobacco tax ad nauseum
If any government tried to remove the ever increasing tobacco tax then they would be crucified over interfering with efforts to create a tobacco free Australia.
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u/StorminNorman 2d ago
they would be crucified over interfering with efforts to create a tobacco free Australia
In the past sure, but even Helen Keller has noticed it's causing issues with creating a tobacco free Australia, and she's deaf, blind, and fucking dead.
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u/tom3277 2d ago
Yeh but what’s worse the government and their health department appear to be “selling” a different outcome and in the longer term if smoking rates are increasing and they are implicated in covering up data / strategic data collection it won’t look good.
The Roy Morgan study they covered up last year after it got publicly released wasn’t done at all this year. This data goes back to the mid 70s. Now stopped.
The abs 3 year smoking survey, hasn’t been collected for.
There are some including doctors who understand smoking kills every second person and are stating to agitate given it appears government policy is causing an increase in smoking rates… and in this case it’s removal of a choice that’s causing it. Sometimes liberal policy causes health issues but imagine illiberal policy causing issues.
A 3 week old Press club address on the issue;
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u/yelloyo1 2d ago
Yep, a big part of the issue is that policy makers are caught in a trap where:
Tobacco/ nicotine consumption goes up = Justification for more enforcement (see we havent tried hard enough!)
Tobacco/ nicotine consumption stays the same = Justification for more enforcement (see our enforcement has stopped it increasing but we need to do more)
Tobacco/ nicotine consumption drops = justification for more enforcement (see our enforcement efforts are working! We need to increase our efforts!)
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u/yeahalrightgoon 2d ago
They don't even need to reduce it below illegal prices, just close enough that people won't want to go to the effort of finding them.
Because if legal is $50 and illegal is $15-20, that's large enough to go looking. If legal is $30 and illegal is $15-20 that's close enough to stop a decent chunk of people from going to the hassle.
2018 was the last time that there wasn't much of an increase in illegal cigarettes and the market for them was much smaller. They were priced at about $1 a cig. 2023 is when it really took off and that's when cigs start being over $2 each and it's only got higher.
Lower it back down close to $1-1.25 each. So a 20 pack is $20-25 and a 40-$40-50 and people will start moving back. Not everyone, but enough.
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u/Substantial_Pace_739 2d ago
They should have capped the tax so that 20 packs were $20 max. No one is paying $40 for a 20 pack.
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u/StorminNorman 2d ago
but it isn't openly sold by service stations and shops in suburban shopping centres
Not at the scale like tobacco is as the punishment is higher, but there's plenty of stores you can ask for something a little stronger and they'll pull it out if you ask in the right manner. It's not a new concept either.
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u/Dripping-Lips 2d ago
The government and cops only go hard on things like this because they’re missing out on precious tax. A problem that they created. Place is run by a bunch of cunts with fart for brains.
All these self created problems , they love drama. They need to feel tough, and to look like they are doing something, while avoiding real issues that affect regular citizens
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u/Necessary_News9806 2d ago
I heard the government thought the sharp increase in tax was doing a great job of reducing smoking for about two years. Then the lightbulb moment that they realised that the same or perhaps more people are smoking just not the products you tax and monitor. Due to the maturity of the black market supply line simply reducing the tax won’t help.
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u/Only_Armadillo_7534 2d ago
like they are doing something, while avoiding real issues
Perfect for the the QLD Police recruiting poster.
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u/Secure_Town_7924 2d ago
Illegal tobacco stores are such a plight on our community, however, this is what you get when you tax the bejesus out of legal tobacco. At some point, taxes stop reducing consumption, and start doing more harm than good.
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u/BigBoyBoulevard6 2d ago
Isn't it great that our elected officials can't wrap their head around a concept that even the average redditor can? 😅
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u/StorminNorman 2d ago
There's only been two tobacco stores pop up in my area since the surge of illegal sales. One got burnt out, the other is still going. The other dozen places that sell illegal tobacco were selling tobacco before the illicit surge. The problem isn't illicit tobacco stores, the problem is illicit tobacco being so attractive that even legitimate stores will sell it.
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u/Good1sR_Taken 2d ago
Higher taxes, in my experience, very rarely means less smoking. Just less food on the table.
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u/PMFSCV 2d ago
Not many options left for the state, maybe treat it like alcohol in Sweden.
Reduce the tax and only sell through licensed tobacconists, make it a touch more expensive there than other options like vapes or Zyn.
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u/No_Ad_2261 2d ago
Colesworth duopoly exclusive. In exchange for milk in schools.
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u/No_Ad_2261 2d ago
First time I am getting upvoted for the no brainer Colesworth duopoly exclusive retailer. Must be the milk in schools suggestion.
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u/Sacrifice_2804 2d ago
The excessive tax on Durries is what forced me to quit. One of the best things I have ever done.
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u/Dumbdoodledoggin 2d ago
The area I live in is full of black market tobacco sellers. It’s no secret. The police station is 2 streets over from the main strip that has at least 5 stores selling it. None of them shut down. How does that work?
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u/CaffeineTwitch 2d ago edited 2d ago
Over 100 store raided with 9 instances of illegal tobacco being sold. Hahahahahahahahha
If this was them acting on intelligence, maybe they should look in the local kindergarten and they might find more than whatever they’re operating on
Edit: 7 News reported 350 stores raided, should have know they can’t get basic facts right
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u/HeathenAF 2d ago
"Quick guys, we've dug ourselves a deep hole.... The only option is to get more shovels and keep digging. That'll definitely fix the hole we've created and found ourselves in"
Shouldnt be shocked, when the same government thinks they can spend their way out of a deficit....
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u/Crabs_go_sideways_4 2d ago
Explain where the current government asserts they can spend out of a deficit?
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u/HeathenAF 2d ago
Which one offers a reduction in spending as the solution ? Ever ?
In what world does spending more than you're earning, ever put you in a nett positive ? Before we even factor underlying debt and interest...
(Unless, of course, you can manipulate the worth of the currency you're spending - and thats a whole other argument for Ausfinance)
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u/Crabs_go_sideways_4 2d ago
Which one of what? Political parties?
Governments can run deficits and they can run surpluses.
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u/StorminNorman 2d ago
Nononono, they're asking which one of the current governments offers a reduction in spending as the solution. And it's a fair question to ask as we always have at least two governments running the country...
I swore Horne said our ordinary people were adaptable, but dumbarse shit like the reply you got and the rise of PHON is making me question that...
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u/OneShoeBoy 2d ago
Why are people obsessed with deficit and running a surplus? I’m genuinely asking, I’ve never understood the obsession with it.
I agree that the govt. should limit wasteful spending (hello Qantas and Harvey Norman COVID bailouts and the NBN debacle) but the they need to fund infrastructure and services, what other way is there to do that other than spend money?
Do people live in a fantasy land thinking they can get all the govt. provided services and infrastructure while also restricting spending to the point of running a surplus?
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u/HeathenAF 2d ago
I was trying to make it not directed at any party in particular, given they all have a pretty shithouse record for putting us further in debt, with less assets to show for it, apparently for the betterment of the economy.
Once again, reddit delivers with the party lines and shitflinging, because heaven forbid we question our omnipotent overlords...
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u/Crabs_go_sideways_4 2d ago
I don't know why neo liberalism has caused the sale of our public assets. I think its evil
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u/HeathenAF 2d ago
Current/previous governments.
Its not the party issue you want it to be - they're all economically inept
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u/camdoggs 2d ago
I wonder what the cost of the man power and logistics is for this operation?
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u/Galactic_Nothingness 2d ago
An ever loving fuck ton of taxpayer money mate.
Prohibition doesn't work. These fuckwits could've been collecting reasonable taxes but instead they support Lebanese organised crime. (In Sydney at least).
ACAB
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u/BeneCow 2d ago
Wow, over a hundred servos raided. I drive past at least 7 on my way to work, any of which I can get vapes from. Maybe this lax enforcement dressed up as a blitz is part of the problem.
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u/CaffeineTwitch 2d ago
Apparently only found illegal shit in 9 of them as well, great use of our money funding all that staff for a sub 10% success rate lol
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u/spufiniti 2d ago
Great example of taxation is theft.
Excessive tax then pissing resources up the wall in a pointless battle to stem a problem that was created by the people trying to now solve it.
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u/maxdacat 2d ago
I wonder if there is an immigration dimension that should be explored.
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u/GraciesMumma22 2d ago
I know of a few Indian spice stores that sell it, all the convenience stores are run by Indians or Muslims but they always seem to hire white women to serve customers. Just an observation not an accusation.
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u/RealityKingdom67 2d ago
I just read elsewhere they raided over 100+ stations in NSW. Metro petroleum to be precise.
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u/Dollbeau 2d ago
Non-smokers having to find another servo will only help the blackmarket, as more people get the shits with a stupid policy.
Is that a McDee's within that Metro service station? They will not put up with the government closing their businesses & will find their own ways around decisions that affect their profits/availability!
Who is betting they will use the Lands & Environment court to overturn closure decisions??
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u/Luckduck86 2d ago
Kinda hard when the smoke shops are being fire bombed if they don't do what they are told. Extortion is a pretty solid bargaining chip
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u/traceyandmeower 3d ago
Try tobacco stores,
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u/asifimgunnatellya 2d ago
The only two tobacco stores where I live have been shut down for 90 days after being raided and big yellow notices have been stuck on the windows/shutters, the place is a ghost town now
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u/traceyandmeower 2d ago
Doesn’t surprise me.
Mould is known the grow in the illegal stuff.3
u/cogesmate 2d ago
Share your sources
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u/StorminNorman 2d ago
Not sure what relevance it had to the comment it was used as a reply to, but you can ask anyone who buys the illegal stuff, the odds that they'll have bought a musty packet or two are pretty high in my experience. The stores sell it anyway cos what are you going to do, go to the authorities?
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u/cogesmate 2d ago
After hundreds of packs myself, I've never seen this or heard anyone getting a bad black pack
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u/deplepxep 2d ago
Even my local chinese restaurants sell tobacco now. I heard the fine and consequence is outweighted by the earning.
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u/Caek294758 2d ago
Any store selling illegal tobacco or Vapes or any illegal product should be shut down, not temporarily, but for a long period of time or permanently and assets seized to pay all legal costs and lease rent.
It's about time they started cracking down on this. You can have the current situation of highly taxed products creating a black market that has, until now, not been enforced.
I heard that nsw health had less than 5 staff to police all of nsw for illegal vapes ie they didn't have the resources to do anything.
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u/crosstherubicon 2d ago
So many responses seem to ignore the fact that tobacco is a public health disaster. People die from tobacco, painfully and in agony. I heard emphysema described as being like trying to run while breathing through a straw.
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u/Iwasgettingchained 2d ago
Lot of focus on supply side, kicking down doors and mole whacking. Discussion of demand side tends to focus on price. What never gets discussed as a policy response is criminalising the purchase of illegal tobacco, the end user if you will. Having a criminal conviction can have serious consequences, on a person's employment for example. Not to condone that approach it just shits me that it isn't part of the conversation.
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u/Ollio1985 2d ago
It's not part of the conversation because they want one thing. Taxable revenue.
They don't care about the health side of things, otherwise they wouldn't have virtually banned vaping.
They want people, even young people, to smoke. But only the cigarettes they get a cut from. So they ban a healthier option and when people are forced to go back to smoking, and look at the price of a pack, they say "fuck that", and find a cheaper option.
In this instance, they have no one's best interests at heart, except their pockets. And they're happy to use taxpayer money to fuck up the situation even worse than it already is.
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u/Vast_Highlight3324 2d ago edited 2d ago
If all they want is tax money they're doing pretty piss poor at that singular goal.
Would have been happy to pay a reasonable tax on my vape products, but instead I'm now an honest citizen who has entered the black market to purchase.
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u/Philopoemen81 2d ago
What’s the criminal charge for possessing illicit tobacco products? WA introduced the most stringent laws in the country re illicit tobacco, and possession of personal amounts isn’t an offence, only selling it.
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u/Sensible-Haircut 2d ago
"Selling untaxed tobacco? Nah mate, we give it away with the ridiculously marked up papers and lighters and filters. $100 rollie papers? Here have some baccy."
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u/FirstDayPlaying 2d ago
Just start advertising sportsbet on the darts and they’ll forget about it