A recent shipment of around 250,000 illegal disposable vapes was intercepted by South Australian border officials, leading to concerns about continued illegal importation despite the federal government’s ban on these devices. The illegal shipment originated from China and was declared as “refillable atomizer[s]” before being seized after arriving in Melbourne. The penalties for importing these vapes can range from fines to imprisonment, with 13 tonnes of vapes seized in just the past week.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) Assistant Commissioner Chris Waters predicts that attempts to import disposable vapes will persist despite enforcement efforts. Meanwhile, Health Minister Mark Butler stated that the seizures are aimed at curbing the market controlled by organized crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs. Vaping, marketed as a therapeutic alternative to smoking, has increasingly targeted young adults and teenagers, resulting in high rates of addiction and health risks.
Health Minister Butler also plans to introduce new laws that will make it illegal to sell or supply vapes, with an extension of the vape crackdown from March 1 requiring permits for importing vapes and new standards for the devices to be considered therapeutic products. The federal government has allocated $29.5 million over four years to support people in their efforts to quit smoking and vaping due to the new tobacco and vaping reforms.