Tweet Facebook Mail The SA state government is cracking down on illegal vapes that are causing school-aged children to become addicted to nicotine. A joint taskforce with Australian Border Force and Consumer and Business Services has seized more than $240,000 of illicit tobacco. Raids conducted in two northern Adelaide suburbs stores uncovered 100 kilograms of illegal tobacco and vapes, with Border Force officers discovering the contraband hidden inside a washing machine, drawers, and boxes.
Among the seized items were over 2300 disposable, brightly coloured vapes, raising concerns about their deliberate appeal to children. Disposable e-cigarette pattern. The concept of modern smoking, vaping and nicotine.
(Supplied) "The criminal networks see tobacco particularly as a low risk and high reward activity they can undertake," said ABF Acting Chief Superintendent Alex Kelsall. The ABF estimates organised crime groups control 75 per cent of Australia's illicit tobacco market. "Organised crime uses the funds they make from the illicit tobacco trade to be able to fund other activities such as the importation of firearms and the importation of drugs," added Kelsall.
But the dangers of these vapes extend beyond nicotine addiction. Many of these vapes contain dangerous levels of nicotine creating serious problems in schools dealing with addicted children. "They contain a cocktail of different chemicals that you might see in cleaning products, or nail polish," said health minister Chris Picton.
"In many cases the nicotine in these vapes is much much more than you would get through cigarettes." This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress ..
