Authorities in Australia Confiscate 250,000 Illegal Vaping Products
The shipment was sent from a single location in China.
Approximately 250,000 illegal disposable vapes, with a street value of $7.4 million (US$4.9 million), were intercepted by border officials in South Australia. This has raised concerns that criminal gangs will try to profit from the federal government’s ban on the devices, which took effect on Jan. 1 this year.
This ban means that imported disposable vapes will no longer be allowed entry to Australia, regardless of when they were ordered, although vape stores can still sell any products they currently have in stock.
The most recent shipment was sent from a single location in China and declared as “refillable atomiser[s]”. It arrived in Melbourne before being sent to South Australia, where it was seized.
Potential penalties for importation range from fines to imprisonment, depending on the nature and severity of the offense. However, this does not seem to have deterred importers, with 13 tonnes of vapes seized in just the past week.
Charges have not yet been laid over the most recent discovery, although police say an investigation is underway.
Importation Attempts Expected to Continue
Australian Border Force (ABF) Assistant Commissioner Chris Waters said he expected the attempted importation of disposable vapes to continue despite enforcement efforts. “The ABF’s experience in preventing the importation of a range of prohibited goods means we are skilled and experienced to respond to this challenge,” he said.
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“All Australian suppliers of vaping products should heed this notice. If you attempt to conceal imports of vapes, we will uncover and intercept them.”
Health Minister Mark Butler said the seizures were “choking off a market that is increasingly controlled by organised crime, by outlaw motorcycle gangs, and other organised criminal gangs.
“Vaping was sold to the global community as a therapeutic good that would help hardened smokers kick the habit,” he said.
“What we now know is that this was a product marketed directly to children, teenagers and very young adults, with one objective in mind: recruit a new generation to nicotine addiction. The tragedy of this is not only were we deceived, but that it’s working.”
One in four young adults are vaping, the health minister said, along with one in six high school students. Some senior students were so addicted to vaping that they couldn’t get through recent exams without nicotine patches.
Vape users inhale about 200 chemicals, some of which are also used for weed-killing, nail polish remover, or to de-ice airport runways.
Anecdotal evidence and posts on social media suggest the use of vapes to deliver illegal drugs is also increasing. In some forums, participants have been seeking information on vaping various substances, including crystal meth.
Disposing of the seized devices is a complex task, as they contain harmful chemicals and lithium batteries.
New Laws Will Extend Vape Crackdown
Mr. Butler said he also planned to introduce new laws that would make it illegal to sell or supply vapes.
From March 1, importing vapes will require a permit from the Drug Protection office. The devices will have to meet new standards from the Therapeutic Goods Administration, including plain labeling and flavors, as well as meeting prescribed nicotine levels.
“This is designed to make sure … the vapes are a proper therapeutic product,” Mr. Butler said.
The federal government has committed $29.5 million over four years to fund programs supporting people to quit smoking and vaping due to the new tobacco and vaping reforms.
