20 million illegal vapes seized by border force in just over two years

Lead

Australian law enforcement has seized more than 20 million illegal vaping products with a street value exceeding $1 billion since federal vaping reforms took effect in January 2024, according to figures reported by the ABC. The seizures, conducted by the Australian Border Force and the Therapeutic Goods Administration, reflect an intensified crackdown on the illicit vape market, but public health advocates caution that gaps in state legislation are undermining broader efforts to curb vaping, particularly among young people.

Coverage Comparison

The ABC has reported on this story in two separate articles, each highlighting different aspects of the enforcement effort. One report focuses on the success of federal enforcement, detailing the volume of seizures and the rise in online advertising removals, while also noting a Senate inquiry into illegal vapes and cigarettes. The other report emphasizes concerns raised by anti-vaping advocates and public health experts, particularly in Victoria, who argue that state laws are insufficient to handle the scale of the illegal trade. Both pieces share core data on seizures but diverge in their emphasis: one frames the story as an enforcement success, the other as a legislative shortcoming.

Key Claims

Both ABC reports agree that the Australian Border Force (ABF) has seized approximately 19.4 million illegal vaping products since January 2024. The estimated street value of these seized products is reported as just over $1 billion in one account, though the other specifies a value of $974 million for the ABF seizures alone. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has also removed 2.2 million unlawful vaping products from the community, valued at $110.5 million, according to both sources.

The TGA has reported a significant increase in enforcement activities, including a 300-fold rise in requests to remove online vape advertisements, from 29 in the previous financial year to 8,706 in 2024-25. This figure was reported by a single ABC article and has not been independently verified.

A Senate inquiry is currently examining the issue of illegal vapes and illegal cigarettes in Australia, according to one of the reports.

Perspectives

Enforcement Successes

The federal enforcement effort has achieved substantial results, as demonstrated by the large volume of seizures. The TGA, in a statement quoted in one ABC report, emphasized its commitment to disrupting the illicit supply chain and protecting public health. University of Sydney tobacco control researcher Becky Freeman expressed approval of the ABF's prioritization of interdicting these products before they reach the market.

Legislative and Enforcement Gaps

Public health experts, including Quit Victoria director Rachael Anderson, argue that Victoria's laws are not adequate to address the illegal vape trade. New state laws introduced this week would empower police to close shops selling illegal tobacco for up to 90 days, but these laws do not cover vaping products. Anderson noted that illicit vapes are often sold alongside illegal tobacco and that there is significant bureaucratic red tape hindering effective enforcement by the tobacco licensing workforce. She called on governments to broaden the legislation to include vapes.

Regulatory Context

Vaping products are legally available only through pharmacies in Victoria, where pharmacists must direct customers to cessation services. Despite this, a large black market persists. The federal reforms introduced in January 2024 established a single national framework for regulating the importation, manufacture, supply, and advertising of vapes, making it unlawful for non-pharmacy retailers to supply any type of vape.

As the Senate inquiry continues its examination, the balance between federal enforcement and state-level legislative gaps remains a central point of tension in Australia's approach to curbing the illicit vape trade.