Twenty-three retailers on NSW’s Central Coast have been shut immediately for 90 days in a tobacco and vape blitz.
This follows a joint operation led by NSW Health with support from NSW Police and the Australian Border Force to disrupt the supply of illicit tobacco and vapes in the region.
While implementing the closure orders at the 23 retailers last week, NSW Health inspectors found and seized approximately 836,000 illicit cigarettes, 120kg of loose-leaf tobacco and 5200 illicit vapes, as well as 800 nicotine pouches.
Further investigations will follow and additional enforcement action, including prosecution, may take place.
NSW Health inspectors have issued 214 short-term closure orders since new powers came into effect in November 2025.
Under the November laws, NSW Health supported by NSW Police can make short-term closure orders of up to 90 days for premises selling illicit tobacco, illegal vaping goods, or selling tobacco without a licence.
NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park notes that these 23 retailers mark the most retailers the state government has shut in a single week since the new powers came into force in November.
“So long as the significant disparity between the cost in legal and illegal tobacco remains, we will continue to see the prevalence of illegal tobacco in our communities, and we will continue to play whack-a-mole with bad actors,” he says.
“Our inspectors actively monitor retailers, and if we find that you are continuing to sell these illicit products after being served a closure order, we will shut you down again and you will face further penalties.”
