Victoria’s illicit tobacco crackdown came too late, premier admits

Key points

• Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has admitted the state's crackdown on illegal tobacco came too late. Since 9 September, police and tobacco inspectors can close businesses accused of selling illicit tobacco for up to 90 days, with longer closures sought through the courts.
• At least 51 closure notices have been issued, according to the Victorian Government. Rohan Pike, who founded the Australian Border Force's tobacco strike team, criticised the government, calling the enforcement approach a whack-a-mole process.
• Closure notices do not mean businesses have been convicted of an offence.