Key points:
- Law enforcement update: This week, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia teamed up with the Victorian police to conduct a two-day raid on retail stores on Church Street to enforce the country's e-cigarette regulations. Results of the raid include the seizure of illegal e-cigarettes worth over $40,000 on the black market, as well as 24,000 nicotine pouches. In addition, the police confiscated over 110,000 illicit cigarettes, over 40 kilograms of loose tobacco, and a quantity of cash.
- Enforcement cooperation and background: The Victorian police's VIPER Taskforce participated in the operation, collaborating with the TGA to gather and share intelligence. Church Street has seen a rise in organized crime incidents since 2025, and this operation focused on areas with high criminal activity, as illicit tobacco is a major source of profit for local organized crime groups, often funding violent crimes like arson, firearms, and extortion.
- Regulations and penalties: In Australia, e-cigarettes can only be supplied through pharmacies, and selling them in tobacco stores or convenience stores is illegal. Violators may face fines of up to $2.31 million AUD (approximately $1.49 million USD) for individuals or $1.65 million AUD (approximately $1.07 million USD) and 7 years imprisonment for criminal penalties, while businesses could be fined up to $23.1 million AUD (approximately $14.92 million USD).
- Long-term enforcement results: Since the e-cigarette reforms in January 2024, the TGA and its partners have prevented over 12.2 million illegal e-cigarettes, valued at over $6.12 billion USD, from entering the community.
On September 29, 2025, the Australian authorities conducted a two-day blitz on retailers on Chapel Street, seizing over $40,000 worth of illegal e-cigarette products and more than 24,000 nicotine pouches. This operation, reported by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website on September 26, aimed to enforce Australia's e-cigarette regulations. The operation was conducted jointly by the TGA and Victoria Police, targeting multiple retail locations accused of illegally holding and selling e-cigarette products.
In this week's operation, the police also seized over 110,000 illegal cigarettes, more than 40 kilograms of loose illegal tobacco, and a quantity of cash. This operation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Victoria Police was carried out under the National Vaping Enforcement Framework, aimed at curbing the supply of illegal e-cigarettes and combating organized crime networks profiting from illegal e-cigarettes.
Professor Robyn Langham, Acting Director of the Therapeutic Goods Administration, stated, "This seizure operation reflects the determination of the Therapeutic Goods Administration and Victoria Police to crackdown on illegal e-cigarette supply and protect the health of Australians, especially young people. I thank the Victoria Police for their support in this effort.
Detective Inspector Graham Banks of Taskforce Lunar in Victoria's police force stated, "Illegal tobacco remains one of the primary sources of profit for major organized crime groups in Victoria. These profits are often used to fund more violent and harmful criminal activities, including arson cases resulting in casualties, numerous gun-related incidents, and extortion.
In Australia, e-cigarette products can only be supplied through pharmacies for the purpose of smoking cessation and nicotine dependence management. It is illegal for retailers such as tobacco shops, e-cigarette specialty stores, and convenience stores to sell any e-cigarette products, even with a prescription.
Offenders will face severe penalties: individuals could be fined up to a maximum of 2.31 million Australian dollars (approximately 1.49 million US dollars) in civil penalties, while businesses could face fines up to 23.1 million Australian dollars (approximately 14.92 million US dollars); if criminal charges are involved, individuals could be fined up to 1.65 million Australian dollars (approximately 1.07 million US dollars) and could face up to 7 years of imprisonment.
Since the implementation of e-cigarette reforms in January 2024, the Therapeutic Goods Administration has conducted multiple enforcement actions across Australia in collaboration with partner agencies. Among them, the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration have successfully prevented over 12.2 million illegal e-cigarettes from entering the community, with a market value exceeding $6.12 billion.
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