Singapore Cracks Down on Vaping Network; Man Charged for Distributing Nearly 3 Tons of Products

Jul.17

A 21-year-old Malaysian man was charged for distributing nearly three tons of e-cigarettes in Bishan and Ubi, Singapore, in one day. He is out on $25,000 bail, with a hearing on August 11. This case highlights Singapore’s growing e-cigarette problem, with authorities seizing $41 million worth of vaping products between January 2024 and March 2025—five times more than from 2019 to 2023.

Key Points:

·A man in Singapore has been charged with two offenses for distributing nearly three tons of e-cigarettes in a single day.

·The total weight of the e-cigarettes involved in the case is approximately 2915 kilograms, and the distribution locations include Bishan and Ubi.

·Each charge carries a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine, 6 months imprisonment, or both.

·The e-cigarette crisis in Singapore has worsened, with authorities seizing e-cigarettes worth $41 million from January 2024 to March 2025.

【2Firsts News Flash】According to a report by The Straits Times on July 14th, a man is suspected of distributing nearly three tons of e-cigarettes in a single day in Bishan and Ubi, Singapore. He has been charged with two counts of violating the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act.

According to the indictment, a 21-year-old Malaysian suspect is accused of distributing these e-cigarettes on July 11th.

Around 1:40 PM on July 11th, in an industrial building in Bishan, a suspect was allegedly caught distributing 103 bags of e-cigarettes, totaling approximately 1966 kilograms.

Around three hours later at 4:20 in the afternoon, in another industrial building in Wumei, he was accused of distributing 51 bags of e-cigarettes, with a total weight of about 948 kilograms.

In total, the suspect is believed to have distributed approximately 2915 kilograms of e-cigarettes within one day.

The court documents from July 14 did not provide detailed information on the chemical composition of the e-cigarette, nor did they explain how the suspect was arrested. The suspect could face a maximum of $10,000 fine, 6 months imprisonment, or both for each charge. He is currently out on bail for $25,000 and the case is set to be heard in court again on August 11.

This case occurred against the backdrop of a looming e-cigarette crisis in Singapore. According to data compiled by The Straits Times, from January 2024 to March 2025, the Health Sciences Authority confiscated e-cigarettes worth $41 million, nearly five times the value confiscated from 2019 to the end of 2023.

Cover image source: Reuters

References:

[1] Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3

Also Read:

[1] Singapore Shuts Down Over 600 Telegram Groups to Crack Down on Illegal E-Cigarette Sales

[2] Singapore May Tighten E-Cigarette Rules as Surge Detected in Products Laced with Anesthetic Etomidate

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