Australian MAST Taskforce Cracks Down on Smuggling, Seizes Over 280,000 Illegal Vapes

Australia's Multi-Agency Strike Team (MAST), in collaboration with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has dismantled a criminal network exploiting industry insiders to smuggle e-cigarettes, seizing over 280,000 illegal vapes valued at more than $21 million across multiple operations.

Targeted Crackdown on E-Cigarette Smuggling

• Bonded Warehouse Investigation: In May 2025, MAST investigators established "Strike Force Borderdale" to target a criminal syndicate allegedly exploiting bonded warehouses in Bankstown to bypass border controls and supply large quantities of illicit vapes.

• Burwood Facility Seizure: On February 3, 2026, MAST and the TGA executed search warrants on a commercial storage facility and two trucks in Burwood, seizing 91,000 vapes with an estimated street value of $6.8 million.

• Revesby and Marrickville Raids: On July 21, 2026, investigators executed search warrants at properties in Revesby and Marrickville, seizing an additional 191,654 vapes valued at $14.3 million.

Regulatory Cooperation and Official Statements

• Ongoing TGA Probe: The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is continuing its investigation into the suspects and supply chains involved in these e-cigarette seizures.

• Disrupting Illicit Capital Flows: NSW Police Superintendent John Watson highlighted the staggering volume of illicit vapes seized, noting that removing these products from daily supply networks prevents millions of dollars from funneling back into organized crime syndicates.