A CRACKDOWN on black market vapes and tobacco has seen almost $9 million of product seized by authorities following raids at Berrinba and Yatala earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Logan has emerged as one of Australia’s leading nicotine hotspots, recording some of the highest smoking and vaping rates in the country.
A recent operation led by the Therapeutic Goods Administration TGA) and Queensland Health, with the help of police, targeted multiple storage and distribution sites suspected of “the unlawful possession and supply of vaping products and illicit tobacco”.
On 8 October, search warrants were conducted at these spots in Berrinba and Yatala.
A spokesperson for the TGA said this uncovered more than 60,000 vapes, vaping accessories and nicotine pouches worth $3 million.
Queensland Health seized more than $5.8 million of illegal cigarettes and loose tobacco, according to the TGA.
So far, no charges have been laid.
“Further investigation and enforcement action in relation to vaping goods and illicit tobacco, including the laying of any charges, will be progressed by the TGA and Queensland Health in due course,” the TGA spokesperson said.
The local electorates of Rankin (encompassing Logan’s north and Brisbane’s south) and Forde (in the city’s south, including Yatala on the city’s border) were last month named in a report by health and wellness company Wesfarmers Health detailing Australia’s nicotine hotspots.
Forde recorded the ninth-highest daily vaping rate nationwide, while Rankin ranked tenth.
Rankin also featured among the top 10 electorates for daily smoking, making it one of the few areas in the country to appear on both lists.
Dr Nicola Rahman, whose PhD from Griffith University specialised in vaping, said smoking cigarettes was historically more prevalent in lower socioeconomic areas, and vaping in higher ones.
However, she said that was changing since vapes had become illegal (except for those with a prescription).
“The illegal tobacco trade has always existed. I think it has worsened of late with the clamp down on vape accessibility.
“In some instances we’re seeing a transition – some people are actually turning to tobacco cigarettes instead because they are available.”
But with black market trade now thriving, and territorial battles between suppliers and retailers taking up headlines, Dr Rahman said greater education, enforcement and deterrents were needed.
“Queensland has some of the strictest border force controls in terms of penalties for the illegal black market, but it doesn’t stop it happening,” she said.
“Public health messaging has to be clearer and stronger. What has worked in the past with public health campaigns is to see smoking as a very dangerous thing. We’ve got decades of data to illustrate to people that it has caused up to 15 cancers.
“When it comes to vapes, we don’t really have such aggressive public health marketing.
“Law enforcement is still required, but… environmental health officers, police and border force need to have enough resources to tackle the problem. They need to have manpower.
“And the penalties do have to be significant to deter people from being involved in the legal market.”
It is unlawful for all Australian retailers such as tobacconists, vape shops, and convenience stores to sell any vapes – even with a prescription.
Advertising of all vaping goods is prohibited unless authorised.
Non-compliance with vaping offences can include imprisonment of up to seven years and fines up to $2.31 million for individuals and $23.1 million for corporations.
Since 1 January 2024, more than 13.6 million illicit vaping products with an estimated street value of approximately $684 million have been seized and kept out of the community by the TGA and Australian Border Force.
