Key points
- Five shops in Sydney’s Inner West were issued 90-day closure notices after inspectors seized about 780,000 illicit cigarettes and 2,200 illicit vapes; two more premises in Northern NSW also received closure notices.
- NSW Health says further investigations are ongoing and prosecutions may follow.
- Since tougher powers commenced in November 2025, NSW Health and police have closed 66 stores.
- 2025 enforcement: about 1,700 inspections, 16.2 million cigarettes seized, and 22 successful prosecutions.
- alian dollars (approximately 28,100 US dollars) in fines imposed by the courts, and 23 cases are still pending.
2Firsts, Feb 9, 2026
According to NSW Health, inspectors in Sydney’s Inner West seized approximately 780,000 illicit cigarettes and 2,200 illicit vapes, issuing 90-day closure notices to five stores. Two additional premises in Northern NSW were also served closure notices.
NSW Health said further investigations will continue and additional enforcement action, including prosecution, may be pursued. Since tougher laws and closure powers targeting illicit tobacco and illegal vapes began in November 2025, NSW Health inspectors working with NSW Police have closed 66 stores.
Health Minister Ryan Park said enforcement efforts are being ramped up statewide, while Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant reiterated that tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death and disease, and that teams will act swiftly against illicit trade.
NSW Health also highlighted key elements of the state’s reforms, including new offences for commercial possession and sale of illicit tobacco (with maximum penalties exceeding A$1.5 million or seven years’ imprisonment, or both), expanded closure order powers (up to 90 days short-term and 12 months long-term), penalties for breaching closure orders, lease termination powers for landlords, and offences covering false licensing claims, resisting seizure, and attempts to retake seized goods.
Enforcement statistics released by NSW Health show that from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2025, inspectors conducted around 1,700 inspections, seizing more than 16.2 million cigarettes, over 2,650 kg of other illicit tobacco products, and around 215,000 illegal vaping goods, with an estimated combined street value of A$24.8 million (about US$16.86 million, using A$1 = US$0.68). Over the same period, NSW Health finalised 22 successful prosecutions, with courts imposing A$784,700 (about US$0.53 million) in fines.
Interim data for Jan 1–31, 2026 shows a further 131 inspections, seizures of around 560,000 cigarettes, 98 kg of other illicit tobacco and 6,000+ illegal vaping goods (estimated street value A$830,000, about US$0.56 million), alongside four finalised prosecutions and A$41,300 (about US$28,084) in fines, with 23 cases currently before the courts.
Image source: NSW Health.
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