More than 800 vapes and 30 kilograms of tobacco have been seized by Queensland Health and police in southern Queensland after tip-offs from the public.
The gold coast authorities confiscated 805 vape devices, which were later found to contain nicotine, from a store in Burleigh Heads.
Nicotine vapes are illegal and can only be sold at pharmacies with a prescription.
The sale of vapes without nicotine is restricted under the 1998 Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act, which excludes the sale of products to people under 18 years old.
The police also raided three stores in Dalby, west of Brisbane, where they seized 30 kg of illegal loose tobacco and a large amount of imported cigarettes.
It is not known whether the incidents are linked.
The raid followed an extensive investigation and several reports from members of the public about the sale of illicit tobacco products at Dalby stores.
A 28-year-old man and a 36-year-old man, both from Toowoomba, were charged with the commercial sale of excisable goods.
They will face the Dalby Magistrates CourtDalby Magistrates Court next month.
More than 5,700 vapes have been confiscated around the Gold Coast this year.
Sharon Jurd, Gold Coast Public HealthPublic Health Unit Director, said she was concerned about e-cigarette use in young people, especially in schools.
Flavors such as watermelon, grape, bubble-gum, and mint make vapes appealing to young people, she said.
New research shows that younger people think vaping is cool and tend to take up the trend because they see older children doing it.
An investigation by Four Corners found a thriving black market for the products, which was fuelled by rising demand and a failure to follow the rules.
Jurd called vapes and e-cigarettes deceptive and said many labelled nicotine-free actually contained nicotine.
She said the environmental health officers of the unit would continue to monitor their distribution and enforce public health legislation across the Gold Coast.
Queensland Health is urging anyone who notices a potential breach to report it to their local Public Health Unit.