Even for criminal authorities in Western Australia, the prospect of an illegal vape trade widening, especially in regional and remote areas is becoming a significant headache. Just in the first five weeks of 2024, inspectors have confiscated more than 222,000 vape pens. This increase in confiscations has led the Australian Border Force and other agencies to increase their investigation capacity. In response, the Western Australian government has made laws more stringent and ramped up enforcement. Despite this, new shops selling illegal vaping products continue to open.
One store in Geraldton has become the talk of the town after reportedly selling vapes from underneath the counter. They’ve really been raking it in with this under-the-radar hustle. Residents have in turn responded by alerting Crime Stoppers to the store’s activities. This beloved local joint is emblematic of a booming trend. Young people are smuggling vapes across from much larger cities like Perth and Geraldton into their regional communities.
Increasing Seizures and Investigations
The jump in vape seizures serves as a clear indication of authorities’ dedication to curbing the illegal trade. The box of vapes pictured above was a recent seizure by an Australian Border Force officer because the vapes are in distinctive gold packaging. This surprise showdown underscored the continuing battle against the illicit market.
Unfortunately, regional Western Australia has become a major epicenter of these compliance and investigation activities. That’s why the Western Australian government is working to further strengthen vaping and tobacco laws to tackle this issue more effectively. New vendors are pouring into the market with dangerous and illegal products. In turn, authorities are increasing their inspections, sometimes giving businesses no notice with surprise visits.
“Vendors in these areas can be visited without warning, and fines or other enforcement actions may follow if illegal tobacco or vapes are found.” – WA Health spokesperson
The illicit market for e-cigarettes and vaping products has taken off on social media sites. Unscrupulous sellers have gotten around the bans by disguising their listings as “scent sticks.” This tactic makes enforcement efforts much more difficult and creates other hurdles for local regulators trying to protect the market from unfettered competition.
Health Concerns and Community Education
Even Vapefree’s Brent Walker wants children taught that vaping is dangerous. He even flies out to extremely isolated areas of Western Australia to conduct some of his outreach work. Further, he notes that most youth get vapes from older siblings, family members, or friends in their communities.
“They get it from their older siblings, family, friends, in the community.” – Brent Walker [ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Brianna Melville]
Walker has witnessed concerning behavior among schoolchildren. He reports that teachers have observed students hiding around corners at school to use vapes, illustrating the extent of the issue within educational settings.
“[Teachers] have witnessed kids at school hiding around corners and having a vape.” – Brent Walker
His outreach and advocacy work shines a light on the hazards of vaping and provides the youth of his community the information they need to make healthier choices.
The Expanding Reach of Vaping
Criminal contraband isn’t a monopoly for urbanized centers. They have opened in far flung rural communities like Exmouth, Meekatharra and agricultural districts like Mingenew and Morawa. People who live in these neighborhoods are more cognizant of this trade. Enough to know that some have started seeing people coming in with vapes from the bigger cities.
“People are bringing it from the bigger cities like Perth or Geraldton.” – Brent Walker [ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Brianna Melville]
This commitment to an open and ongoing dialogue between community leaders and stakeholders illuminates a serious commitment to stopping the spread of vaping among our youth. Local efforts are working to tackle the public health hazards and regulatory hurdles created by the black market.
