Australian Border Force Seizes over 390,000 Illegal Disposables, Record High in This Year

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
May.27.2024
Australian Border Force Seizes over 390,000 Illegal Disposables, Record High in This Year
Australian Border Force intercepts over 390,000 e-cigarettes worth $12.4 million in Sydney, largest seizure since new laws enacted.

According to Australian media 9 News, in less than a week, the Australian Border Force (ABF) has intercepted nearly 400,000 disposable e-cigarettes entering Australia, with a total value exceeding $12.4 million Australian dollars ($8.22 million US dollars).

 

On Monday through Thursday, border security personnel conducting inspections on containers in Sydney discovered abnormal goods and confiscated nearly 400,000 e-cigarettes from three containers.

 

The Australian Border Force (ABF) reported on Monday that a total of 37,800 units of disposable e-cigarette products were found during a cargo inspection. Authorities also discovered a second container containing 18 pallets, with a total of 174,960 units of disposable e-cigarettes inside.

 

On Thursday, officials discovered 177,120 disposable e-cigarettes in the third container.

 

The total number of e-cigarettes seized in this operation reached 389,880, with an estimated black market value exceeding 12.4 million Australian dollars (8.22 million US dollars).

 

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has stated that the three shipping containers all originated from Asia. In a statement, the ABF said this was the largest interception of disposable e-cigarettes at the "border" since new laws targeting imported e-cigarette products came into effect in Australia on January 1st of this year. Asha Patwardhan, acting ABF Trade Commander, stated that border forces will continue to take strong proactive enforcement and interception measures to prioritize the health and safety of the Australian community.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Swedish Match Faces Broader Labeling Order After ZYN Inspection, Documents Obtained by 2Firsts Show
Swedish Match Faces Broader Labeling Order After ZYN Inspection, Documents Obtained by 2Firsts Show
Documents obtained by 2Firsts show that Sweden's Public Health Agency ordered Swedish Match to revise ingredient labels beyond the five ZYN products inspected. The dispute centers on whether flavoring ingredients must be individually disclosed, with Swedish Match citing trade-secret protection and the regulator insisting on full ingredient disclosure. The company faces a conditional penalty of SEK 2 million per month for noncompliance. As of October 22, the agency had received no appeal, despite the company's stated intention to challenge the decision.
Oct.22
PMI Pushes Smoke-Free Business in Latin America as Argentina Lifts Heated Tobacco Ban, Mexico City Share Tops 7%
PMI Pushes Smoke-Free Business in Latin America as Argentina Lifts Heated Tobacco Ban, Mexico City Share Tops 7%
Philip Morris International (PMI) showcased IQOS heated tobacco systems and nicotine pouch products at Technovation 2026 in Buenos Aires on October 7–8, presenting research on consumer attitudes, regulatory developments and illicit cigarette trade across Latin America. PMI Chief Global Growth Officer Stefano Volpetti said smoke-free products accounted for more than 7% of the Mexico City market. Argentina repealed its heated tobacco ban in May 2026 and introduced registration requirements for tobacco and nicotine products, while local media reported nicotine pouch sales in Mendoza. A PMI-commissioned survey found that only 8% of respondents across four Latin American countries were familiar with nicotine pouches. A separate KPMG study estimated illicit cigarette consumption at 77 billion sticks across 11 markets in Latin America and Canada in 2025.
PMI
Oct.13
Product | OXVA Introduces XLIM PRO 4 With Liquid-Level Anti-Burn Technology and Dedicated Pods
Product | OXVA Introduces XLIM PRO 4 With Liquid-Level Anti-Burn Technology and Dedicated Pods
Vaping brand OXVA introduced the XLIM PRO 4 refillable pod system in October 2026, featuring Anti-Burn Tech (ABT) based on smart e-liquid-level detection. The system can issue refill alerts and stop power output when e-liquid levels become too low. ABT requires the XLIM PRO 4 device and a dedicated XLIM ABT cartridge. Standard XLIM pods remain compatible but do not support ABT protection. OXVA previously introduced temperature-based anti-burn technology in the XLIM Pro 2 DNA, developed with Evolv. The new device features a 1,800mAh battery, 5–30W output and a 0.98-inch HD color screen. OXVA's official store lists the device at $37.90 and dedicated ABT replacement cartridges at $12.99. Independent testing confirmed the low-liquid protection response but recorded varying cartridge lifespans.
product
Oct.30
IKE Tech Launches IKE 2.0 Compliance Platform for Nicotine Products
IKE Tech Launches IKE 2.0 Compliance Platform for Nicotine Products
IKE Tech launched IKE 2.0 on September 28, initially targeting nicotine products with a platform that combines user identity verification, product authentication, configurable policy controls and data analytics. Products can be authenticated through direct device integration or NFC smart tags. IKE Tech was formed with participation from Ispire's Aspire North America, Berify and Chemular, with Ispire currently holding a 40% interest. Its age-verification component PMTA was accepted by the FDA in 2025 and remains under review. The company did not disclose customer names, commercial deployment volumes, pricing or revenue tied to IKE 2.0.
News
Sep.29 by 2Firsts Perspectives
German Customs Seize 115,800 Vapes in €1.4 Million Tax Case
German Customs Seize 115,800 Vapes in €1.4 Million Tax Case
Germany's Magdeburg Main Customs Office seized 115,800 untaxed e-cigarettes containing a combined 4.366 million mL of e-liquid during four truck inspections between August 10 and September 4, 2026. The seizures prevented an estimated €1.397 million in tax losses and set a record for the customs office's jurisdiction. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against four truck drivers. The case follows a separate German investigation involving more than 7.6 million illicit vapes and an estimated €33.3 million in excise-tax losses.
Enforcement
Oct.13
From Vuse, Velo and glo to AI Consulting: Former BAT Content Lead Launches Destreza
From Vuse, Velo and glo to AI Consulting: Former BAT Content Lead Launches Destreza
Former BAT global content lead Andy Parton has left the company and launched Destreza, a London-based AI-native marketing consultancy. Parton previously worked across BAT's New Category brands Vuse, Velo and glo and had also served as Global Brand Lead for Vuse Go. Destreza says it will advise consumer businesses on AI in brand strategy, operating models, capability and agency configuration, using specialist AI agents to support research, strategy and creative development. BAT reported £3.621 billion in New Category revenue in 2025.
Sep.22