Leeton Convenience is the latest store to be shut down. Photo: Leeton Convenience.
Another store has been closed in the Riverina as the NSW Government continues its crackdown on the alleged sale of illegal tobacco.
NSW Health can issue a short-term closure order of up to 90 days if it suspects illicit tobacco or illegal vaping goods have been or are likely to be sold from a premises, or tobacco or non-tobacco smoking products have been or are likely to be sold without a licence.
Last week, it issued this closure order to Leeton Convenience, at 94 Pine Avenue, for the alleged sale of illicit tobacco and the alleged retail sale of tobacco products or non-tobacco smoking products by a person who does not hold a retail licence that is in effect.
According to its published tobacco closure orders register, the store is to remain closed until 16 June.
On 12 March, NSW Health handed the same temporary closure orders to three Albury stores and in November 2025, there were raids across the state that saw two Wagga businesses shut for three months.
Member for Wagga Wagga Joe McGirr welcomed the news of these Wagga closures and said he hoped it served as a message to others.
“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.”
Tobacco is illicit when it is grown, manufactured and/or produced in Australia or imported into the domestic market without customs duty being paid. It can be sold for as low as the quarter of the price of legal cigarettes.
Selling illicit tobacco now carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment, a fine of $1.54 million, or both in NSW. Selling tobacco or non-tobacco smoking products without a licence carries a maximum penalty of $660,000 for an individual or $880,000 for a corporation.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the State Government’s “approach to illegal tobacco is more boots on the ground, tougher penalties, and more powers to close down bad actors”.
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