AACS COMMENDS CRACK DOWN ON ILLICIT TOBACCO

January 15 2014

The Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has commended today’s announcement from the Victorian Government that the penalty for those caught selling illicit tobacco products will be quadrupled.
“We support any measure that cracks down on the black market trade of tobacco, a market that has increased exponentially since the introduction of plain packaging and continues to flourish as a result of the relentless excise increases on legal tobacco products,” AACS CEO Jeff Rogut said.
“The illicit trade of tobacco significantly impacts the retailers of legal tobacco products, particularly small businesses, which suffer a critical loss of income.
“At the same time, Government misses out on a substantial slice of revenue it would otherwise collect from the sale of legal tobacco products.
“Any effort to crack down on the illicit trade of tobacco and prosecute the criminals responsible is welcomed by the AACS,” Mr Rogut said.
Under the changes announced by the Victorian Health Minister, retailers caught with illicit tobacco face $34,600 in fines for individuals and $173,200 for businesses. The penalties are expected to apply from later this year.
“We urge other state governments around the country to take a similarly hard line approach to this criminal practice,” Mr Rogut said