Australia’s largest vaping case: 15 tons of illegally imported e-cigarettes seized, valued at AUD 10

Recently, the Western Australia Health Department seized 15 tons of illegally imported e-cigarettes from a warehouse northeast of Perth after receiving a tip-off. This is reportedly the largest illegal e-cigarette seizure in Australian history.

The health department stated that over 300,000 e-cigarettes were confiscated during this operation, with an estimated value of AUD 10 million.

Under the 2014 Medicines and Poisons Act, the maximum penalty for selling nicotine e-cigarettes in Western Australia is a personal fine of AUD 45,000 and three years in prison, while companies face fines of AUD 225,000. In the 12 months leading up to June this year, Western Australia seized 43,000 illegal e-cigarettes and issued dozens of warnings.

It is understood that the Australian government announced in May this year a ban on the import of all non-prescription e-cigarette products, including those that do not contain nicotine. This legislation is considered the most significant tobacco and e-cigarette control measure in Australia in a decade.