New laws targeting commercial landlords who knowingly permit tenants to sell illicit tobacco and vaping goods from their premises begin today, as part of the government’s continued crackdown on the illicit market.

Most young people I know smoke vapes. They start there and then often end up smoking cigarettes as well. They are not buying cigarettes for $50 to $80 a packet from your official distributor; they are picking them up illegally and cheaply.

The NSW Police say the Organised Crime Squad, together with NSW Health and the Australian Border Force (ABF), have charged four people and seized more than 18,000 vapes, 1.9 million illicit cigarettes, 74kg of loose-leaf tobacco and five unregistered firearms.

The high number of ‘illegal tobacco’ and vape shops in Lismore has promoted Labor councillor Jasmine Knight-Smith to pen a motion for the upcoming meeting on October 14 (today)