Millions of cigarettes seized in crackdown

Key points

• Authorities have shut 100 shops under newly granted powers aimed at stamping out the trade in illegal tobacco. Since those powers took effect on 9 September, the VIPER Taskforce and Tobacco Licensing Victoria officers have confiscated over four million unlawful cigarettes, roughly 70,000 vaping devices, three tonnes of leaf tobacco and close to $1 million in cash.
• The drive is directed at criminal networks that profit from the illicit product, including groups run from overseas.
• Retailers across a string of Melbourne suburbs have been inspected, and the operation is still underway.