Northern Territory Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News. Police, government and business are embroiled in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse as new anti-vaping laws are bedded down and illegally imported cigarettes flood the market.
NT Police and licensing officials have had a number of wins since the new vape laws were implemented nationally on July 1, but alert NT News readers say at least one Darwin CBD business is still selling vapes. And police recently had a big hit in their campaign against illegal tobacco currently on sale in the Territory, with a raid seizing tens-of-thousands of imported cigarettes. Millner’s heavily fortified R1 Tobacconist.
Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin Police said that on September 26, in a multi-agency operation between NT police and Australian Border Force, a search warrant was conducted at R1 Tobacconist in Millner, with about 31,000 illicit cigarettes and a quantity of cash seized in the raid. Police said recently received specific information regarding R1 Tobacconist, “prompted police to take action”, and said they were aware of the sale of illegal tobacco. Execution of the law is complicated by the various government bodies that have agency over illegal tobacco and vapes.
The Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations is responsible for licencing and compliance in the Territory under the Tobacco Control Act 2002, meaning it can cancel or suspend tobacco retail lic.
