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A former federal police officer criticizes the Victorian government for its delayed response to the illicit tobacco trade, arguing that it has allowed the black market to flourish and contribute to criminal activities such as murders and arson attacks. Since September 9, new laws have enabled inspectors and police to close businesses selling illegal tobacco products; however, at least 51 closure notices have been issued since then, which the officer believes is insufficient. The Premier acknowledges that action should have come sooner but maintains that current efforts are yielding positive results with an increase in closed shops.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A former federal police officer, Rohan Pike, criticized the Victorian government for not addressing the illicit tobacco trade sooner. New laws in September granted inspectors and police powers to shut down shops selling illegal tobacco for up to 90 days, with at least 51 closure notices issued since then. Pike, who founded Border Force's Illegal Tobacco Unit, argued that the government's delayed action allowed the black market to flourish unchecked. Premier Ben Carroll admitted the government should have acted earlier but claimed the new laws are effective. Queensland’s Assistant Customs Minister Julian Hill emphasized the importance of state actions in curbing illicit tobacco trade across Australia.
Written for “Illegal Tobacco Crackdown Victoria” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.50, but 2 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 1 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 56555: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-05
In short:
A former federal police officer says the state government has taken too long to give Victoria Police stronger powers to combat the illicit tobacco trade.
asserted
government → say → trade
In September, inspectors and police were given new powers to close shops found to be selling illegal tobacco for an initial 90 days.
asserted
inspectors → give → days
Premier Ben Carroll says the government should have acted sooner but insists new laws are working.
asserted
laws → say → ?
A former federal police officer who established Border Force's illegal tobacco unit has slammed the Victorian government for its handling of the booming black market.
asserted
who → establish → market
Rohan Pike, who founded the Tobacco Strike Team, criticised the Labor government for not moving quick enough.
asserted
who → found → government
"Our government simply hasn't cared about this problem for many years and it's just allowed it to fester and get completely out of control," he said.
asserted
he → care → control
Last month new laws came into effect that gave inspectors and police power to close businesses found to be selling illegal tobacco products.
asserted
that → come → products
At least 51 closure notices have been issued since the laws came into effect on September 9.
asserted
laws → issue → September
Vendors can be forced to close for up to 90 days initially and will be publicly listed on Tobacco Licensing Victoria's website.
asserted
Vendors → force → website
Mr Pike said while new closure powers incentivised Victoria Police to conduct more raids, it had done little to impact the illicit market which has been at the centre of murders and hundreds of arson attacks.
asserted
which → say → attacks
"Victoria Police have been screaming for closure laws for many years now," he said.
asserted
he → scream → years
"It does still feel a bit like a whack-a-mole process that we have in Victoria, even with the additional powers."
Premier concedes government should have acted sooner
It comes as new data from Queensland showed state legislation strengthening powers to shutdown illegal tobacco shops had led to a 55 per cent jump in legal cigarette sales.
asserted
legislation → feel → sales
The federal MP for Bruce in Melbourne's south-east and Assistant Customs Minister Julian Hill said Queensland's crackdown was making it harder for criminals and "helping turn the tide" on Australia's illicit tobacco trade.
"This really reinforces the critical importance and urgency of the states and territories shutting the shops as it has an immediate impact," he said.
asserted
it → say → impact
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll conceded the state government should have acted sooner but insisted progress had been made since the new laws came into effect.
"
asserted
laws → concede → effect
We've actually seen more and more tobacco shops being closed," he said.
asserted
he → see → ?
"We should have acted on this sooner but the inspectors are out there."
asserted
inspectors → act → this
Mr Pike said under-resourcing had hindered the work of tobacco enforcement for years.
asserted
resourcing → say → years
"We've been going for years horribly understaffed [and] underpowered," he said.
"They're turning up without the resources, without the expertise to shut this down."
asserted
They → go → this
Earlier this year, the Victorian government boosted the number of Tobacco Licensing Victoria inspectors from just 14 to 42 across the state.
asserted
government → boost → state
Most of the inspectors were Melbourne-based, according to Mr Pike, which he said put additional pressure on police officers in regional communities.
uncertain
he → base → communities
"It falls back on Victoria Police to do their work and they're going to have to drop some of their priorities at crime types in other areas in order to turn their attention to illicit tobacco," he said.
asserted
he → fall → tobacco
Mr Pike said enforcement alone was not the answer.
asserted
enforcement → say → ?
"We need to change the policy settings at a federal level in order to enhance the effectiveness of some of these enforcement efforts," he said.
asserted
he → need → efforts
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