A RECENT arsonist attack at a Mount Gambier gift store has led to police uncovering the illegal sale of a large amount of tobacco products by two city businesses.
Following a fire at the Gift Gallery on Compton Street in the early hours of March 17, police started investigating the unlawful sale of tobacco products.
As a result, the officers raided the store and another business at 11am on Tuesday and seized 33,000 cigarettes and 15kg of tobacco.
Police uncovered the cigarettes being sold in plain unsealed boxes, being sold singularly and tobacco being sold in clear snap-lock freezer bags.
On the spot fines totalling $2180 were issued to both shop keepers for selling tobacco products without a licence, selling tobacco in non-compliant packaging and importing tobacco products not labelled in accordance with the regulations.
Limestone Coast Police officer in charge Superintendent Phil Hoff said it was an important seizure in the fight against organised crime.
“The sale of illegal tobacco products often referred to as chop chop occurs for one reason – to make money for organised crime,” Supt Hoff said.
“There is no regard for peoples well-being, it is just a revenue generating exercise and feeds an addiction that contributes to 18,000 deaths a year in Australia. It is pleasing we have been able to stop distribution in Mount Gambier on this occasion.”
Supt Hoff said broader scale distribution of tobacco products was a matter for border control.
“With everything they are dealing with at the moment it is probably something for them to look at down the track,” Supt Hoff said.
Police inquiries are continuing, anyone with information on the unlawful selling or location of cigarettes is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
