More than 300,000 vapes seized from Perth warehouse in Australia's largest bust

The WA Health Department has seized 15 tonnes of vapes from a warehouse in Perth's north-east in what it says is the biggest-ever bust of its kind in the state and nation.

Authorities say more than 300,000 vapes worth an estimated $10 million were discovered.

WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the raid came after a tip-off.

Health Department officers also found more than 10 tonnes of illegal prescription drugs and "nangs", which are whipped cream chargers filled with nitrous oxide that are abused by being inhaled.

They can cause brain and nerve damage and even death.

Ms Sanderson congratulated officers and said the seizure was part of a wider crackdown on the sale of illegal vapes and misuse of nitrous oxide.

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"Nicotine is a highly addictive and dangerous poison, and we know vapes also contain many other toxic substances and are designed to appeal to young people," she said in the statement.

"Vapes and e-cigarettes can contain up to 200 toxic chemicals, including the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weed killer, bug spray and paint stripper."

The WA government's regulatory regime for vapes has come under fire after figures in June revealed WA Health has brought just one prosecution against a retailer for the illegal sale of nicotine vapes in the past 12 months.

The maximum penalty in WA for selling nicotine vapes under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2014 is a $45,000 fine and a three-year prison term for an individual, or a $225,000 fine for a company.

A total of 43,000 illegal vapes were seized in WA in the 12 months to June and dozens of warnings were issued.

In May, the Health Department conceded it had not issued a single fine over illegal vape possession.

The devices and disposable cartridges have been widely available for sale in stores in Perth and via underground online delivery services.

That is despite the fact it is illegal to sell them without a prescription from a pharmacist.

Ms Sanderson told ABC Radio Perth that bulk seizures like the one earlier this month would make the biggest impact on the supply of illegal vapes to the state.

Angus warns other teenagers not to take up vaping as the Federal Government prepares to crackdown on the black market.

"That's 300,000 vapes that will not appear on the streets of WA or in our schools," she said.

"This is millions and millions of dollars worth of product … so this is going to hit the hip pocket."

She said the WA government was now taking a harder line against retailers selling illegal vapes after spending the past 12 months issuing mostly warnings.

Ms Sanderson said there were a number of cases with the state solicitor's office and charges were expected to be laid in future.

"They've taken a tougher approach and we've seen those more recalcitrant retailers and smoke shops are actually being prosecuted," she said.

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