Victoria illicit tobacco sellers move online to evade crackdown

Black-market tobacco sellers in Victoria are transitioning to online operations to evade a government crackdown. These illicit retailers are utilizing e-commerce sites to offer express delivery and significant bulk discounts, with cigarette prices as low as $15 per pack compared to legal prices of $40 to $50.

These online operations use various payment methods, including PayPal, Apple Pay, and bank transfers, while communicating order updates via WhatsApp. Deliveries have been tracked through Australia Post and picked up via inner-city package lockers.

Authorities have already shut down 62 tobacco shops operating without licenses or selling illicit products, primarily in Melbourne’s CBD and the Stonnington Council area. To avoid inspections, sellers have adopted several workarounds, such as operating only on weekends, using disguised packaging, or moving stock into vehicle trunks.