General News
11 July, 2026
Police raid Main Street smoke shop
A business in Main Street Stawell became the focus of a major police operation on Wednesday morning, with officers remaining on scene for much of the morning after executing a search warrant.
The operation began about 9.40am and continued through the morning, drawing the attention of shoppers, passing motorists and business owners as police searched the premises in one of the busiest parts of town.
Victoria Police said a man in his 30s was taken into custody during the operation.
It is alleged police recovered a commercial quantity of tobacco along with other drug-related paraphernalia.
The man has since been charged and will appear at Stawell Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
Police have not released details of the charges, the warrant executed or which specialist units were involved in the operation.
The raid comes as authorities continue to intensify their crackdown on Victoria’s illicit tobacco trade, which police and the State Government say is closely linked to organised crime.
Last month, the Allan Government introduced legislation that would allow authorities to close illicit tobacco businesses for up to 90 days and seek longer-term closure orders through the courts, part of a broader effort to disrupt illegal tobacco networks.
Wednesday’s operation was not the first time police have targeted an alleged illicit tobacco business in Stawell.
In December last year, Northern Grampians Criminal Investigation Unit detectives and Stawell police executed a search warrant at another Main Street retailer, seizing tobacco, vapes, cash and other items before arresting a 51-year-old woman. At the time, police described illicit tobacco as an ongoing issue across western Victoria.
Wednesday’s raid was a talking point around town, with numerous onlookers stopping to watch the operation unfold. Several told The Stawell Times-News it was “about time” authorities took action against the alleged illicit tobacco trade, while Victoria Police confirmed the investigation remains ongoing.
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