NSW health shuts down drive-thru selling illegal vapes
NSW Health shut down a drive-thru selling illegal vapes and tobacco in a crackdown on black market vendors.
An 'international grocer' in Campbelltown near Sydney was caught operating a drive-through to sell illegal tobacco and vapes. Joey's Mini Mart & Drive Thru said it was selling groceries and snacks.
NSW Health found it was actually a tobacconist. In a two-day operation, NSW Health inspectors closed 10 retailers.
They seized 420,000 illegal cigarettes, 60 kilograms of loose-leaf tobacco and more than 4,000 illegal vapes. These products have a combined street value of about $600,000.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the federal tobacco excise makes legal cigarettes very expensive. This creates a black market.
- Campbelltown, Sydney
- Location
- 10
- Retailers closed
- 420,000
- Illicit cigarettes seized
- $600,000
- Street value
Why it mattersThe black market for tobacco is thriving. It puts public health at risk and helps criminal networks.
AustraliaAustralians in Sydney and beyond face growing availability of cheaper illegal tobacco, undercutting government health policy.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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