Key points:
·Harsh warning: Officials in the state of Johor, Malaysia, have publicly warned citizens not to be tempted by criminal groups to smuggle e-cigarettes into Singapore in order to make quick money.
·The consequences of this risky behavior are severe: if caught by Singaporean authorities, offenders will face strict legal sanctions alone as the group will not provide any assistance.
·Policy support: The Johor state government supports the Ministry of Health's efforts to promote a nationwide ban on e-cigarettes, giving law enforcement agencies greater authority to crack down on related sales and smuggling activities.
On September 15, 2025, Malaysian Johor State Health and Environment Committee Chairman Ling Tian Soon expressed concern over the increasing number of e-cigarette smuggling cases involving Malaysians, as reported by The Star. He stated, "Since 2016, Johor has become the first state in Malaysia to completely ban the sale of e-cigarettes and e-liquids to the public. This means that all local councils have not issued any sales permits to relevant establishments.
Singapore also prohibits the use and possession of e-cigarettes, both of which are illegal under the country's laws. According to Ling Tian Soon, with the increasingly strict laws in both Johor and Singapore, criminal groups are becoming more brazen in their methods. Some groups are using social media and e-commerce platforms to sell illicit goods in order to evade regulations, while others are enticing local people, especially young individuals, with high rewards to smuggle prohibited items through the Second Link or the Causeway.
Liao Tianxing urges the public to remain vigilant: "There is no easy money to be made in this world. Once caught by the Singapore authorities, they will bear the legal consequences alone." He also emphasized that the Johor state government fully supports the Ministry of Health's proposal to ban e-cigarettes in the cabinet memorandum. The nationwide ban will give enforcement agencies such as the Health Ministry greater authority to crack down on the sale of e-cigarettes.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has stated that a memorandum to ban e-cigarettes will be submitted to the Cabinet by the end of 2025 at the latest. He emphasized that the issue is not "whether" to ban, but rather "when" to ban. "I am now responsible for implementing this directive, with a focus on determining the specific methods, timing, and implementation pathway," he said.
During the period from June to July, more than 15,000 e-cigarettes and related components were seized at land checkpoints in Singapore. Two cases were reported at the Woodlands checkpoint on June 27 and July 8, where over 7,400 e-cigarette products were found.
On August 6, the Johor Customs Department intercepted a lorry at the exit lane of the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex in the Second Link. Inspection revealed 256 boxes of electronic pods hidden behind the driver's seat, totaling 7,680 pods valued at RM46,080 (approximately $9,800 USD). The goods were not declared and the unpaid taxes and duties amounted to RM9,676 (approximately $2,060 USD).
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