Border Force officers have announced the largest seizure of vapes since new national laws came into effect in January.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
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.
01:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]