Border forces make largest vapes bust since national ban

Border Force officers have announced the largest seizure of vapes since new national laws came into effect in January.

Transcript

00:00 Border force officers have seized 13 tons of disposable vapes.

00:06 That's more than 150,000.

00:09 It's the largest scale of this kind since new laws were put in place at the start of

00:13 the year that banned the importation of vapes, whether they're nicotine or not.

00:19 And what's the message from health authorities, Shari?

00:24 Health authorities are sending a strong message.

00:26 We spoke with the health minister, Mark Butler, who said that the government are taking a

00:31 siege of this kind very seriously.

00:35 This market is trying to recruit a new generation to nicotine, putting these vapes into the

00:41 hands of the youngest Australians.

00:43 And it's also funding the criminal activities of organised crime gangs, drug trafficking,

00:48 sex trafficking and the like.

00:49 So I just appeal to businesses and other commercial entities that have become involved in this

00:54 market, find another way to make money.

00:56 This is just the wrong thing to do, as well as now being illegal.

01:01 And what's next for the investigation?

01:05 Investigations are still ongoing.

01:07 No charges have been laid and officers are remaining tight lipped.

01:11 We do know that the origins of these vapes is from China and there is a hefty penalty

01:16 for anyone involved in importation.

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