Record $10 million bust highlights growing scourge in Australia
The astonishing find was made possible due to a tip-off from a member of the public.
A whopping $10 million worth of illegally imported vapes and "nangs" has been intercepted in Western Australia, believed to be the largest bust of its kind in the country.
The giant haul, uncovered in a warehouse in Perth's northeast on Sunday, was made up of 15 tonnes of vapes and 10 tonnes of nitrous oxide canisters, or "nangs". A total of 45 pallets of boxes were discovered stuffed with about 300,000 disposable and rechargeable vaping devices.
Authorities say the single-day discovery represents more than a year's worth of seized vapes in NSW.
Health Department compliance officers revealed that a tip-off from a member of the public led them to the mega haul, which was bound for the black market and eventually Australian streets.
Vape use continues to soar
The discovery comes amid skyrocketing rates of vaping among the nation's youth — with bold new tobacco laws set to be ushered in later in the year in response — and as an alarming number of teenagers admit to regular nang use.
WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson reminded the public vaping remains illegal in the state unless a person owns a prescription from an accredited health professional. Anyone caught vaping could face up to three years in jail, with hefty fines in place.
Though despite this, vape use is still common across the country.
“The state government is stepping up compliance, vaping is illegal without a prescription and retailers need to stop selling them,” she said.
“It’s great work by the compliance officers and the local government involved.”
“It’s appalling to see vapes targeted at children, and these clearly are with their flavours and their colours and the names."
Teen's tragic diagnosis after getting addicted to nangs: 'I can’t walk'
Woman's battle with 'deadly' illness after vaping for less than a year
Nang hospitalisations increasing
Of the 10 tonnes of nangs discovered, about 180,000 individual canisters were seized. The canisters are traditionally used in whipped cream cans.
Ms Sanderson said banning the sale of nangs to under 16s hasn't gone far enough.
"The sheer volume of them shows that they were not destined for our cake bakers," she said.
Chronic inhalation of a can of nitrous oxide can destroy the lining of the spinal cord, with hospitals around Perth revealing rates of those presenting for nang abuse continues to soar.
In 2018, there were just two hospital admissions, now there's approximately one person presenting to emergency every fortnight on average, according to the Royal Perth Emergency Department.
Earlier this year, a 19-year-old teenager faced living with permanent disability after her nang addiction left her hospitalised and unable to walk.
Perth teen Molly Day said her addiction began at end-of-year school celebrations with friends and turned into inhaling one to two 1.3-litre canisters of nitrous oxide each day.
"It got to a really bad point where I didn’t want to do it with my friends because I didn’t want to share… I just wanted it all to myself," she said at the time. "I just got hooked very quick, I just couldn’t stop."
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
