NSW Government Intensifies Fight Against Black Market Tobacco and Vapes
Legislation aimed at shutting down tobacconists illegally selling black market cigarettes and vapes is beginning to show results, but authorities acknowledge there is still a long way to go in curbing this widespread issue. The New South Wales Minister for Health, Ryan Park, has confirmed that enforcement efforts will be significantly ramped up throughout 2026.
New Closure Powers Yield Early Results
Since the introduction of new closure order powers on November 3, 2025, NSW Health inspectors have already shut down six premises in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region for 90-day periods. Statewide, more than 50 stores have been closed under these measures. This represents a substantial shift in enforcement capability, according to Minister Park, who also serves as the Member for Keira and Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast.
"We've been able to do that pretty quickly following the passing of legislation at the back end of last year, but we've got a long, long way to go," Park stated. "We've still got too many of these premises, and we will continue to be doing not only closures but also regular inspections."
Multi-Agency Approach to Complex Problem
The crackdown involves coordinated efforts between NSW Health, NSW Police, the Australian Border Force, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration. This collaborative approach addresses what Park describes as a significant challenge that has proliferated across communities in recent years.
Australian Taxation Office estimates suggest approximately one quarter of all tobacco sold in Australia during 2023-24 was illicit. "The problem for all of us is that these stores have been able to pop up and proliferate right across our community," Park explained. "What we have to do now is try and move the dial back so that it's fairer for small businesses who are doing the right thing."
Evidence-Based Enforcement Strategy
While no closure orders have been issued in the Illawarra region since November 19, Park emphasized this doesn't indicate reduced activity. "What we will often be doing is inspections that build up evidence," he clarified. "To take a person's livelihood away and shut their business down overnight, you need proof, and rightly so."
The minister acknowledged that inspectors cannot be on every corner of every street, but expressed confidence that sustained enforcement would gradually reduce the number of illicit outlets. "It's certainly not going to happen overnight, that's for sure, it will take some time," he admitted.
Future Enforcement Plans
Park, who described himself as an impatient person by nature, revealed that additional closures are imminent. "I know that over the next couple of weeks, there will be significantly more closures and enforcement, I know that just from the briefings I've had, and that will be across the state," he said.
The enforcement strategy aims to create a deterrent effect similar to traffic policing. "Hopefully that starts to send a signal in the same way as when police get someone pulled over for a traffic infringement," Park noted. "It sends a signal to the rest of the community about their need to behave and do the right thing."
With the closure of 50 premises representing significant disruption to operators' livelihoods, the government plans to continue increasing enforcement pressure throughout 2026. "So we will continue to ramp that up, and I want to see that ramped up again this year," Park concluded, emphasizing this represents "the start of the process, not the end of the process."
