Number of vapes seized in NSW increases by 500% in three years as state clamps down on ‘alarming trend’

The NSW government says the community expects action on vapes and it is working to combat the ‘pervasiveness of these products’. Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP

The number of vapes seized in New South Wales has increased by 500% over the past three years as the state government attempts to clamp down on a scourge the health minister says needs to be dealt with before it is too late.

Figures obtained by Guardian Australia show last year more than 182,000 vapes were seized by NSW Health across the state, up from 30,000 in 2020 and 76,000 in 2021.