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🇦🇺 Australia /Economy & Trade

Illicit tobacco market thrives online in Australia

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Australia's illicit tobacco market is rapidly expanding online, with numerous websites offering cheap tobacco and vapes with express delivery.
  • Authorities are struggling to combat the online trade, which fuels organized crime and undermines tobacco control policies, leading to violence in regions like Victoria.
  • Law enforcement acknowledges the difficulty in effectively disrupting the online illicit market, despite significant seizures of illegal tobacco and vapes by border forces.

Australia's illicit tobacco market is increasingly operating online, mirroring legitimate e-commerce with discreet packaging and express delivery options. Websites offer cheap tobacco and vapes, with purchases facilitated through direct bank transfers and communication via WhatsApp, followed by Australia Post tracking numbers. One test purchase of a carton of 10 packets cost $150, a third of the legal price, with express delivery available for an additional $20.

We're definitely looking at disrupting websites selling illicit tobacco, along with the Therapeutic Goods Association and the Department of Health.

— Amber ShuhytaAustralia's Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner, discussing efforts to combat online sales.

The online trade fuels underworld violence and undermines Australia's strict tobacco control policies. Amber Shuhyta, Australia's Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner, stated that while physical shops remain the primary sales point, online sales are a growing concern. Authorities are working to disrupt these websites to prevent the trade from proliferating.

But as shopfronts close, we need to make sure that we are taking down websites so that the trade cannot proliferate there.

— Amber ShuhytaAustralia's Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner, explaining the need to address online sales as physical shops are targeted.

Enforcement efforts face significant challenges. Detective Inspector Chris Murray of Victoria Police's Arson Squad admitted that despite over 500 arrests for tobacco-related arsons, the impact has been minimal. He highlighted that tobacco has become a primary income source for organized crime, rivaling drugs, with criminal groups possessing budgets larger than law enforcement agencies.

We've made over 500 arrests for the tobacco arsons but I've got to be honest with you, I'm not sure that it's made a difference, which is sad … it's not through lack of trying.

— Detective Inspector Chris MurrayHead of Victoria Police's Arson Squad, admitting the limited impact of enforcement on tobacco-related arsons.

Authorities are increasing enforcement, with the Australian Border Force seizing over 2.1 kilotons of illicit tobacco and more than 6 million illicit vapes in the 2024/2025 financial year. However, the evolving nature of online sales presents a continuous challenge in controlling the illicit market.

The two biggest sources of income for organised crime now; it was drugs, I think on par is tobacco, which is just incredible.

— Detective Inspector Chris MurrayHead of Victoria Police's Arson Squad, highlighting the significant financial role of illicit tobacco for organized crime.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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