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Forrest Hotel Shut for 90 Days After Police Seize 10,000 Suspected Illicit Cigarettes - Ballarat, NSW
Smart summary
Police have closed a hotel in Forrest, Victoria, for 90 days after seizing approximately 10,000 suspected illicit cigarettes, loose tobacco and cash during searches at two premises in Forrest and Colac.
A hotel in the Otway Ranges has been ordered to close for 90 days following a police operation targeting the suspected illicit tobacco trade in south-west Victoria.
The operation involved officers from the Colac Crime Investigation Unit, Forrest police and the VIPER Taskforce. Police executed search warrants at two premises in Forrest and Colac earlier this week as part of an investigation into the suspected sale and supply of illicit tobacco products.
During the searches, officers seized approximately 10,000 suspected illicit cigarettes, around 800 grams of loose tobacco and approximately $10,000 in cash. The seized items are now part of the ongoing investigation.
Following the operation, a hotel in Forrest was issued a 90-day closure order under Victoria’s strengthened illicit tobacco laws. A second business in Colac received a warning about its obligations under the legislation.
The closure means the Forrest premises must remain shut for the period specified in the order. The new enforcement powers allow authorities to temporarily close premises suspected of selling, supplying or possessing illicit tobacco while further enforcement action is considered.
The laws are intended to address illicit tobacco activity and its potential impact on legitimate businesses. Authorities have stated that businesses found operating in breach of closure orders may face further penalties.
The investigation is continuing, and police have not publicly confirmed whether charges have been laid in connection with the seized products and cash. The allegations remain subject to the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
The operation highlights enforcement activity in regional communities, where police are working with specialist units to investigate suspected illicit tobacco networks. Illicit tobacco activity can involve the distribution and sale of products outside the legal licensing and taxation system, raising concerns about regulatory compliance and the impact on businesses operating lawfully.
The 90-day closure is a temporary enforcement measure and does not, by itself, establish that any individual has been convicted of an offence. Further details may become available as the investigation progresses.
Residents with information relevant to suspected illicit tobacco activity can report it to Crime Stoppers Victoria. Police have encouraged people to provide information that may assist ongoing investigations.
IllicitTobaccoPoliceSuspectedInvestigation
A hotel in the Otway Ranges has been ordered to close for 90 days following a police operation targeting the suspected illicit tobacco trade in south-west Victoria.
The operation involved officers from the Colac Crime Investigation Unit, Forrest police and the VIPER Taskforce. Police executed search warrants at two premises in Forrest and Colac earlier this week as part of an investigation into the suspected sale and supply of illicit tobacco products.
During the searches, officers seized approximately 10,000 suspected illicit cigarettes, around 800 grams of loose tobacco and approximately $10,000 in cash. The seized items are now part of the ongoing investigation.
Following the operation, a hotel in Forrest was issued a 90-day closure order under Victoria’s strengthened illicit tobacco laws. A second business in Colac received a warning about its obligations under the legislation.
The closure means the Forrest premises must remain shut for the period specified in the order. The new enforcement powers allow authorities to temporarily close premises suspected of selling, supplying or possessing illicit tobacco while further enforcement action is considered.
The laws are intended to address illicit tobacco activity and its potential impact on legitimate businesses. Authorities have stated that businesses found operating in breach of closure orders may face further penalties.
The investigation is continuing, and police have not publicly confirmed whether charges have been laid in connection with the seized products and cash. The allegations remain subject to the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
The operation highlights enforcement activity in regional communities, where police are working with specialist units to investigate suspected illicit tobacco networks. Illicit tobacco activity can involve the distribution and sale of products outside the legal licensing and taxation system, raising concerns about regulatory compliance and the impact on businesses operating lawfully.
The 90-day closure is a temporary enforcement measure and does not, by itself, establish that any individual has been convicted of an offence. Further details may become available as the investigation progresses.
Residents with information relevant to suspected illicit tobacco activity can report it to Crime Stoppers Victoria. Police have encouraged people to provide information that may assist ongoing investigations.
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