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Arizona’s Operation Counter Strike Conducts 1,882 Tobacco Retailer Inspections in Fiscal 2025, Issues 451 Criminal Citations

Mar.11
Arizona’s Operation Counter Strike Conducts 1,882 Tobacco Retailer Inspections in Fiscal 2025, Issues 451 Criminal Citations
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the results of the Attorney General’s Office “Operation Counter Strike” program on March 9, 2026.

Key Takeaways

 

  • The Attorney General’s Office Operation Counter Strike program conducted 1,882 inspections of tobacco retailers in fiscal year 2025.
  • The inspections covered every Arizona county and resulted in 451 criminal citations to clerks and businesses that sold tobacco products to minors.
  • The program has operated in partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services since 2002 and uses youth volunteers accompanied by investigators for compliance checks.
  • Retailers who sell tobacco and nicotine products to underage buyers face criminal citations and fines of up to USD 1,000 per offense.
  • The statewide failure rate in 2025 was 13.6%, and the Attorney General’s Office filed consumer fraud lawsuits against Pro Source and New York Smoke Shop.

 

 

2Firsts, March 9, 2026

 

According to the Attorney General’s Office, Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the results of the Attorney General’s Office “Operation Counter Strike” program. The program conducted 1,882 inspections of tobacco retailers across every Arizona county in fiscal year 2025, resulting in 451 criminal citations issued to clerks and businesses that sold tobacco products to minors.

 

Kris Mayes said that selling tobacco and nicotine products to children is illegal and that her office will not look the other way. She said the office is going after the worst offenders and is putting every retailer in Arizona on notice that they must follow the law.

 

Operation Counter Strike, a partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services since 2002, uses youth volunteers accompanied by Attorney General investigators to conduct compliance checks at tobacco retailers statewide. Retailers who sell to underage buyers face criminal citations and fines of up to USD 1,000 per offense. Under Arizona law, the legal age to purchase tobacco and nicotine products is 21.

 

While most retailers pass their inspections, the program’s 13.6% statewide failure rate reveals persistent bad actors. In 2025, the Attorney General’s Office filed consumer fraud lawsuits against two of the state’s worst offenders, Pro Source and New York Smoke Shop.

  

Image source: Attorney General’s Office.

 

References:
[1] Attorney General Mayes Announces 451 Criminal Citations in Crackdown on Tobacco Sales to Minors in Fiscal Year 2025
Also Read:
[1] Arizona Moves to Tighten Vape Supply-Chain Enforcement, Targeting Illicit Products
[2] Arizona e-cigarette shops ordered to pay $460,000 for selling tobacco and nicotine products to minors
[3] Arizona’s New Law Takes Effect: Minimum Age to Purchase and Possess Tobacco Products Raised to 21

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