Reports of illegal tobacco crimes have sharply increased in Australia in recent years. Organised crime syndicates believed to be behind tobacco smuggling operations have also infiltrated the retail sector.
There have been more than 250 firebombings of tobacconists and other shops across Australia since March 2023. Owners have been threatened to “earn or burn”: either sell tobacco illegally for the syndicate, hand over the keys to their shop, or have it burnt down.
