Illicit tobacco and vaping products have been seized and three illegal tobacconists have been issued closure notices following a Combined Agency Operation in the State’s north.
Between Tuesday 21 October 2025 and Thursday 23 October 2025, a targeted operation was conducted by officers attached to the Lake Macquarie Police District, the NSW Health Centre for Regulation and Enforcement.
The operation in October focused on the compliance of licensed retail tobacconists, addressing reported complaints to both Government agencies relating to the growing concern and prevalence of illicit tobacco and vaping devices being readily available to the community. The operation resulted in the inspection of 22 retail premises, three of those premises were unlicensed.
As a result of the Combined Agency Operation, 22 tobacco retail premises were inspected, which identified three unlicensed premises in Toronto, Swansea, and Warners Bay.
During those inspections police located and seized a total of
- 6,396 vaping devices,
- 593,910 illicit cigarettes and
- 53 kilograms of loose-leaf tobacco
Totalling an estimated retail value of $914,179.
Following further inquiries, yesterday (Thursday 12 February 2026), Lake Macquarie Licensing Police assisted NSW Health Centre for Regulation and Enforcement with issuing thee closure notices under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008 for a three-month period.