Illegal vapes worth $1 million seized on way into WA

A million dollars worth of illegal vapes has been seized from an interstate truck heading into Perth in Western Australia's biggest bust of its kind.

The 17,000 nicotine vapes were intercepted on a truck from New South Wales thanks to a mystery tip-off.

It's part of a WA government crackdown on sales of the illegal devices.

READ MORE: Chris Dawson found guilty of having sex with student

Department of Health chief pharmacist Meeghan Clay said the problem was getting harder to tackle.

"As we get on top of one part they become more sophisticated. That's very normal in illegal activity," Clay said.

WA Health Minister Amber Jane Sanderson said the devices were dangerous to health.

"It is not harmless, there are more than 200 chemicals in vapes and many of them are linked to cancers," Sanderson said.

A 22-year-old man is being questioned.

READ MORE: Tyrrell's foster mother urges swift decision on charges

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.

Each vape is the equivalent to 15 packets of cigarettes but the ingredients on the box don't mention nicotine.

Unless bought from a pharmacy, all vapes are illegal in WA, yet dozens of shops sell the product in a rampant under-counter culture.

Michael Page from the Australian Medical Association said vaping was widespread among young people.

"We are really fighting a rearguard action to put the genie back in the bottle," Page said.

"Roughly one in six high school students have vaped and even primary-school-aged children have vaped."

A year ago the state government doubled down.

READ MORE: Ticketek sets new record as Swift presale sells out

A total of 12,000 shops were inspected and 27,000 vapes were seized.

So far only one business has been prosecuted.

Some are worried not enough is being done in a market directed at children.

Detectors will be trialled in public school bathrooms the habit is proving difficult to stamp out.