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Tobacco

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New data suggests 80 per cent of nicotine products are illegal.

The data that destroys the idea that Australians are quitting smoking

New evidence pulled from the nation’s sewers reveals just how dominant the illegal tobacco market is – with up to four in five cigarettes now of the illicit variety.

  • Brittany Busch and Shane Wright

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Organised crime could have complete control of Australia’s multibillion dollar tobacco market as soon as 2030 unless drastic action is taken.

Taxpayers, not Big Tobacco, are paying for our illegal smoke habit

Big Tobacco is still making a fortune in Australia, even as government revenue plunges – but organised crime will soon snuff this out.

  • Colin Kruger
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Tragically, tobacco tax opened the door to organised crime

Governments have let the illegal tobacco trade run wild.

  • The Herald's View
Fremantle Convenience Store was one of four new businesses handed a forced closure notice as part of the new tobacco laws in WA. Vaping, tobacco convenience stores closing, Perth, WA, WAtoday main image.

‘Dodgy operators’ forced to close as WA ramps up war on black market tobacco

Four more stores across Perth have been handed a 90-day closure notices amid the state’s crackdown on illegal tobacco sales.

  • Indigo Lemay-Conway
Nick Coatsworth

Former top medical officer calls for cut to tobacco taxes

Dr Nick Coatsworth is preparing to call the flourishing illegal tobacco market a “whole-of-government policy failure” at a Senate inquiry into Australia’s tobacco crisis.

  • Chris Vedelago and Annika Smethurst
The woman is brought to the back of the store to speak with authorities. There is no suggestion she was involved in any way with the alleged illegal activities.

Kalgoorlie barbershop raided, ordered to close as WA’s war on tobacco heats up

The Kalgoorlie store was raided on the same day the laws kicked in, and police allege it resulted in the seizure of nearly 2000 illegal cigarettes and about three kilograms of loose tobacco.

  • Hannah Murphy
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The first closure order was issued following a police raid on a Kalgoorlie barber shop.
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Six stores issued closure orders as WA's war on illegal tobacco heats up

The first closure order was issued following a police raid on a Kalgoorlie barber shop.

The illicit flight touched down in Merauke, South Papua.

Australian fugitives smuggled to South Papua were in the tobacco game, prosecutors say

Two men wanted by NSW police, and an Australian pilot, have been detained in Indonesia for six months.

  • Zach Hope and Karuni Rompies
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Minns calls for tobacco excise overhaul after $62 billion hole emerges

Between 2025 and 2030, the government expected to collect $77 billion in tobacco excise. It’s likely to get just $15 billion.

  • Shane Wright
An Australian Border Force officer checks a stash of illegal cigarette imports.

Crime boss ‘might as well be health minister’, as tobacco scheme labelled a farce

Three months after the launch of Victoria’s tobacco licensing scheme less than half a shipping container’s worth of illegal cigarettes have been seized and no one has been criminally charged.

  • Chris Vedelago