Wagga Unique Finds Convenience Store is one of two stores forced to close for selling illegal tobacco. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Two Wagga businesses have been raided by NSW Health and forced to close for at least 90 days after being caught selling illegal tobacco and vapes.
Wagga Unique Finds Convenience Store at 23 Baylis Street and City Supermarket at 238 Baylis Street were forced to close their doors on Thursday (20 November) and won’t be allowed to re-open until at least 18 February 2026.
The Wagga stores are just two of 24 to be shut across the State, with raids also carried out in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
Member for Wagga Wagga Joe McGirr welcomed the news of the two closures and said he hoped it served as a message to other stores thinking of doing the same.
“I hope these closures send a clear message to anyone thinking about selling illegal tobacco in our community that authorities are serious about tackling this problem,” Dr McGirr said.
“Law-abiding traders are losing many thousands of dollars to illegal operators, with a growing involvement by organised crime raising significant concerns, so the raids carried out in Wagga are very significant.”
If an individual sells tobacco products, non-tobacco smoking products or vaping goods from closed premises, they can be prosecuted and face a maximum penalty of up to six months imprisonment, a fine of $137,500, or both for a first offence. For a subsequent offence offenders face 12 months imprisonment, a fine of $275,000, or both.
PRD Real Estate’s Simon Azzopardi previously warned that stores which commonly sell illegal tobacco aren’t actually listed as tobacconists, but instead as supermarkets, as seen by the two recent closures.
“The problem is that the people who own these illegal tobacco disruptions are inquiring about leases under the guise of grocery stores or something very similar,” he said.
“Often with these cases, they’re not inquiring as a tobacconist or a tobacco store. So the landlord needs to be vigilant.
“When there is suspicion of illegal behaviour, there needs to be proof to kick that tenant out. That means they need to be raided or similar by the police.”
Dr McGirr said he had worked closely with NSW Health Minister Ryan Park to stamp out illegal tobacco sales in Wagga Wagga and he was pleased to see action being taken.
“I recently asked the Health Minister to facilitate investigations into stores that may be operating illegally in Wagga and I’m appreciative that NSW Health responded to my call, conducting raids with the support of police,” Dr McGirr said.
“I was the first member of the NSW parliament to push for a tobacco licensing system after being made aware of the growing problem of illegal tobacco by legitimate operators, and it’s pleasing to see major progress to stem the illegal trade in our community and across the state.”
The closure order sign. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Mr Park said the recent raids and closures were just the beginning.
“My message to retailers selling illicit tobacco or vapes is stop it now. If you’re doing the wrong thing, sooner or later we will come for you,” he said.
“This will take some time as we ramp up our closure activities, but this is just the beginning, and we want to reassure the community that we are targeting those retailers doing the wrong thing.”
