Community
Minor Decoy operation of local tobacco retailers results in four arrests.
Minor Decoy operation of local tobacco retailers results in four arrests. 
On Saturday, November 22, 2025, members of the Simi Valley Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) conducted minor decoy operations at 18 random tobacco retailers throughout the City of Simi Valley. During these operations, four were cited for selling to a minor.
On November 8, 2022, California voters upheld state law SB 793, which prohibits tobacco retailers and their employees or agents from selling, offering for sale, or possessing most flavored tobacco products including flavored e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, and tobacco flavor enhancers. California also passed two new laws, Assembly Bill (AB) 3218 and Senate Bill (SB) 1230, which closed loopholes in SB 793 and strengthened enforcement. These laws went into effect on January 1, 2025, and must be fully implemented by December 31, 2025.
The employee at each business who sold tobacco products to the minor decoy, were arrested and cited for a misdemeanor violation that will later be forwarded to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Penalties for selling tobacco products to individuals under 21 years of age have increased under the new laws. Previously, fines ranged from $400 for a first violation to $6,000 for a fifth violation in five years. Under the updated law, fines now range from $1,000 for a first violation to $20,000 for a fifth violation. The new laws also grant the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, local law enforcement, and other agencies the authority to seize prohibited flavored tobacco products from retailers and wholesalers, with penalties of $50 per package of such products.
The Simi Valley Police Department’s SET team is an entity within the Special Enforcement Bureau and was established as a crime suppression unit meant to address various crimes within the City. Those duties include the enforcement of lewd/dissolute conduct in public, Human Trafficking enforcement, ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control) enforcement investigations and assessment, the enforcement of street-level narcotics, warrant service on wanted individuals and gang enforcement.
The Simi Valley Police Department would like to thank the Community for its ongoing support and partnerships that make the City of Simi Valley a safe place to enjoy and live. The Simi Valley Police Department encourages its citizens to report suspicious activity, which can be done anonymously. To remain anonymous, tips can be sent to the Department’s tip line at (805) 583-6984, or to Crime Stoppers of Ventura County by telephone at, (805) 494-8255.
On November 8, 2022, California voters upheld state law SB 793, which prohibits tobacco retailers and their employees or agents from selling, offering for sale, or possessing most flavored tobacco products including flavored e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, and tobacco flavor enhancers. California also passed two new laws, Assembly Bill (AB) 3218 and Senate Bill (SB) 1230, which closed loopholes in SB 793 and strengthened enforcement. These laws went into effect on January 1, 2025, and must be fully implemented by December 31, 2025.
The employee at each business who sold tobacco products to the minor decoy, were arrested and cited for a misdemeanor violation that will later be forwarded to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Penalties for selling tobacco products to individuals under 21 years of age have increased under the new laws. Previously, fines ranged from $400 for a first violation to $6,000 for a fifth violation in five years. Under the updated law, fines now range from $1,000 for a first violation to $20,000 for a fifth violation. The new laws also grant the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, local law enforcement, and other agencies the authority to seize prohibited flavored tobacco products from retailers and wholesalers, with penalties of $50 per package of such products.
The Simi Valley Police Department’s SET team is an entity within the Special Enforcement Bureau and was established as a crime suppression unit meant to address various crimes within the City. Those duties include the enforcement of lewd/dissolute conduct in public, Human Trafficking enforcement, ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control) enforcement investigations and assessment, the enforcement of street-level narcotics, warrant service on wanted individuals and gang enforcement.
The Simi Valley Police Department would like to thank the Community for its ongoing support and partnerships that make the City of Simi Valley a safe place to enjoy and live. The Simi Valley Police Department encourages its citizens to report suspicious activity, which can be done anonymously. To remain anonymous, tips can be sent to the Department’s tip line at (805) 583-6984, or to Crime Stoppers of Ventura County by telephone at, (805) 494-8255.
Address/Location
Simi Valley Police Department
3901 Alamo St
Simi Valley, CA 93063
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-583-6950