The wild ways smugglers are flooding Australia with illegal cigarettes, vapes

Australia has become a prime target for smugglers flooding the country with illegal smokes and vapes — but law enforcement has hit back with one of the biggest hauls on record.

Exclusive: Australia’s border force has uncovered a wave of brazen smuggling attempts, seizing more than half a billion cigarettes and millions of vapes in just three months — one of the biggest hauls on record.

Between July and September 2025, officers intercepted 586 million cigarettes and more than three million vapes, marking a sharp rise on the same period in previous years.

By comparison, the July–September 2024 period saw 539 million cigarettes and just over 2.3 million vapes seized, while in 2023 authorities intercepted 449 million cigarettes, with no official vape seizure data recorded as legislation targeting vapes only came into effect in January 2024.

The Australian Border Force (ABF) said enhanced intelligence and information sharing are helping officers better target shipments for inspection, resulting in record seizures “regardless of entry point into Australia.”

In Queensland, nearly two tonnes of tobacco were discovered in July when a shipping container from China was found to be stuffed with illicit goods. Picture: Australian Border Force

Rounding out the financial year quarter was a near-record breaking seizure in Sydney arriving in mid-September where a shipment from China contained over 95 thousand vapes. Picture: Australian Border Force

In Queensland, nearly two tonnes of tobacco were discovered in July when a shipping container from China – falsely declared as furniture – was found to be stuffed with illicit goods.

Weeks later, ABF officers at Brisbane Airport stopped a traveller arriving from Lebanon, uncovering 30 kilograms of tobacco and 2500 cigarettes hidden in socks and shirt pockets.

In Western Australia, officers at Fremantle seized more than four million cigarettes behind a wall of bricks in a shipping container.

That bust led to a joint-agency operation which uncovered an estimated $24 million in crime proceeds across NSW.

In Melbourne, a man previously warned about smuggling was found with 68,000 cigarettes after arriving from the UAE. Picture: Australian Border Force

In Victoria, authorities stopped a shipment from China carrying 6.5 tonnes of tobacco disguised as furniture – one of the largest seizures this year – while in Melbourne, a man previously warned about smuggling was found with 68,000 cigarettes after arriving from the UAE. Charges are still pending.

Meanwhile, the quarter ended with a near-record haul in Sydney, where 95,000 vapes from China were misdeclared as “perforated strips” in a sea cargo consignment. That shipment is also under investigation.

Between July and September 2025, officers intercepted 586 million cigarettes and more than three million vapes, marking a sharp rise on the same period in previous years.

Illicit Tobacco and Vape Enforcement Commander Greg Dowse said the scale of recent busts showed criminal networks were “becoming more brazen” and taking bigger risks.

“Many of our larger seizures can be attributed to our successful offshore relationships with international partners,” Commander Dowse said.

“By regularly sharing intelligence we can target and identify consignments of illicit tobacco and vapes before they have even reached our shores.

“We want criminals to know that our evolving intelligence and enhanced information sharing is outsmarting any evasion attempt to smuggle illicit tobacco into our country.”

The ABF said co-operation with overseas authorities had been crucial in disrupting the flow of illegal goods before they reached Australian ports and airports.

Members of the public are urged to report suspicious activity to Border Watch, which can be reported anonymously.

Originally published as The wild ways smugglers are flooding Australia with illegal cigarettes, vapes