Vapes worth $8 million discovered in Australia

 When Victorian police were summoned to an early-morning break-in this week, they discovered something surprising: almost 200,000 illicit vapes valued at $8 million. Officers responding to reports of a commercial robbery discovered the vapes in an outer-east Melbourne warehouse, according to a statement released by the police on Saturday. Around 4 a.m. on Thursday, a warehouse on Middleborough Road in Box Hill South was reported to have been robbed.

“Upon arrival, police located over 1,000 boxes of illegal vapes with an approximate total value of $8m,” police said.

 “Following the discovery, police contacted the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), who will take carriage of the investigation given possessing a commercial quantity of illegal vapes is a commonwealth offence.”

Pallets of vapes, some in boxes labeled “Apple Grape Ice” or “Cherry Pomegranate,” are seen being carted away by a forklift in the footage of the haul.

Following the arrest of eight individuals for commonwealth offenses and the seizure of around 600,000 cigarettes, vapes, and other tobacco items during police raids on Wednesday, this is the second major operation targeting Victoria’s illegal tobacco and vape market this week. With over 100 arson assaults on tobacco shops in the state in the last 12 months, Victoria is engulfed in a turf war over the illicit market.