Loading article...
More than 20 million illegal vapes worth over a billion dollars seized since Australia's vaping reforms
More than 20 million illegal vapes with a street value exceeding one billion dollars have been seized by Australian authorities since vaping reforms came into effect. Border Force seized 19 million at the border, while the TGA removed 2 million from the community.
More than 20 million illegal vapes with a combined street value exceeding one billion Australian dollars have been seized by law enforcement authorities since Australia's landmark vaping reforms came into effect. The staggering figures reveal the enormous scale of the vape black market that enforcement agencies are working to dismantle.
Australian Border Force was responsible for the bulk of the seizures, intercepting approximately 19 million vapes at the country's borders. The Therapeutic Goods Administration removed a further two million vapes from the community, including products found at stores selling them illegally on the underground market.
The TGA has also dramatically ramped up its crackdown on online and social media advertising for vapes. In the current financial year, the agency made 8,700 requests to take down social media profiles or online advertisements promoting vaping, compared to just 29 such requests in the previous year. The surge reflects the scale of enforcement under the new reforms.
Health experts welcomed the seizures, noting that any reduction in supply represents a positive outcome for public health. The reforms are particularly aimed at reducing vaping among young people, and experts say removing visibility of vapes through social media takedowns should help decrease exposure to the products among younger demographics.
However, specialists warned that sustained enforcement will require significant ongoing funding and effort. Once successful crackdowns occur, black market operators typically find workarounds quickly, meaning law enforcement will need to continually adapt to maintain pressure on the illicit supply chain, as reported by ABC News Australia.