New vape laws enforced with massive crackdown

The crackdown on illicit tobacco imports comes after the federal government outlawed non-prescription vapes from January 1, 2024.

Disposable vape imports were banned in Australia and only prescription vapes are sold through pharmacies.

More than 5.5 million individual cigarettes, 404 kilograms of loose leaf tobacco, disposable vapes, drug paraphernalia and four gel blaster firearms were seized on February 6 and 7.

"The ABF is well and truly on the front foot when it comes to the new vaping regulations and we will continue to target, locate and seize these goods at every opportunity," Australian Border Force (ABF) assistant commissioner Tony Smith said.

"The amount of illicit tobacco, vapes and cash, along with gel blaster firearms and drug paraphernalia seized during this operation demonstrates how this is an attractive market for organised crime syndicates," he said.

"These syndicates use profits to fund lavish lifestyles and link to other forms of criminality, including drug supply."

A number of Australian law enforcement agencies collaborated on the raids with the Therapeutic Goods Administration and NSW Health also seizing 213,000 disposable vapes, almost 50,000 cigarettes and 4.8 kilograms of loose leaf tobacco for destruction.

"In total, the estimated potential street value of the illicit goods located and seized during the operation is $12.5 million," ABF said.

These raids come after 6,000 disposable vapes were seized at a Sydney air cargo facility on January 30. They were the first NSW border raids since the 2024 vape import laws came into effect.

"It took us over three-quarters of a century to reduce smoking rates across Australia. We now have an opportunity to stem the tide of vaping before it impacts generations of young people to come," NSW minister for health Ryan Park said.

"There is nowhere to hide for retailers who are doing the wrong thing. We want them to know the time to stop selling vapes is now before they have us knocking at their door."

Anyone with information about the importation of illicit tobacco or cigarettes should contact Border Watch at abf.gov.au/borderwatch.

If you suspect that illicit tobacco is being grown or manufactured in your community, you can confidentially report it to the ATO online at www.ato.gov.au/tipoff or by calling 1800 060 062.