VICTORIA. — Under new powers, the VIPER Taskforce and Tobacco Licensing Victoria (TLV) have closed 61 stores linked to organised crime that were caught selling illicit tobacco in just four weeks.
The new enforcement powers came into effect on September 9 under the Tobacco Act 1987 and allow TLV and Victoria Police to issue 90-day closure notices to any store found to be selling illicit tobacco.
Since that date, the two agencies have closed 61 stores linked to organised crime and seized over two million illicit cigarettes, over 40,000 vapes, over 120kg of loose tobacco and over $500,000 cash.
The operation is statewide, with VIPER and TLV having visited stores in Deer Park, Geelong, South Geelong, Corio, Thomson, Werribee, Colac, Forrest, Footscray and Lalor so far.
The deployments will continue across the state in the coming weeks.
The VIPER Taskforce is specifically targeting illicit tobacco stores linked to organised crime, including syndicates with offshore leaders.
The VIPER model is dynamic and agile, allowing members the flexibility to pivot quickly and execute search warrants at stores outside of normal business hours and on weekends.
The operation is being assisted by detectives from the Criminal Proceeds Squad with a view to identifying proceeds of crime and ultimately debanking offending entities from the Australian financial system.
If a store is caught selling illicit tobacco, a yellow closure sticker is affixed to the storefront detailing the 90-day closure. It is an offence to remove the sticker or to then operate the closed business.
