A 56-year-old man has been charged after Victoria Police seized more than 1,000 vapes at a retail business in Eltham.
A warrant was executed at the Pitt Street shop on 6 July after police received a number of reports of vapes being sold to underage persons at the premises.
The vapes are typically sold for $25 each, putting the combined value of the seizure of 1,154 vapes at almost $30,000.
“A 56-year-old man was arrested and charged with the illegal sale of vapes to underage persons, failing to hold an appropriate licence to sell nicotine vapes and unauthorised supply of nicotine vapes,” Police said in a statement.
The man, from Eltham, was released on bail to appear before Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on October 6th.
The Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 lists nicotine as a Schedule 4 poison. This means nicotine vaping products – including nicotine vapes, nicotine pods, nicotine e-liquids/e-juice and liquid nicotine – can only be sold to or possessed by a person aged 18 or older who has a valid prescription.
Selling a nicotine vaping product to someone without a valid prescription attracts a $18,492 fine.
The Tobacco Act 1987 regulates vape products and accessories regardless of whether they contain nicotine.
It prohibits sale to people aged under 18 years, bans the use of vapes in areas where smoking is banned and restricts the advertising and display of these products, regardless of whether they contain nicotine.
Anyone with information about retailers or individuals illegally selling vaping products can report it to Victoria Police via Crime Stoppers Victoria or the Police Assistance Line.
