Singapore Cracks Down on Vaping: Over 3,700 Offenders Caught Between April and June

Key Points

• Number of Cases: 3,700 offenders (Apr–Jun 2024), up 20% from 3,100 in the previous quarter.
• Military & Police Enforcement: Ministry of Defence and SAF conduct bag searches and urine tests; police and SCDF increase checks at training schools.
• Kpods Cases: 29 cases detected as of Aug 12, including 9 related to import/sale; five individuals charged. First home manufacturing case sentenced to 16 months’ jail.
• Social Media: Eight fined for posting vape-related photos/videos; HSA launched new online reporting form.
• Sales & Smuggling: 12 prosecuted for illegal sales; ICA seized around 90,000 vapes at checkpoints, plus 850 last week.
• Legal Consequences: Possession/use can incur fines up to S$2,000; import/sale up to S$10,000 or six months’ jail; harsher penalties for etomidate cases.

According to CNA, Singapore authorities have ramped up their crackdown on vaping. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced on Aug 26 that more than 3,700 individuals were caught and fined for possessing or using vapes between April and June, nearly 20% higher than the 3,100 cases in the previous quarter.

The Ministry of Defence stated on social media that stricter checks have been carried out at military camps and training schools, including bag inspections and urine testing. Police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) also conducted joint checks at the Police Academy and Civil Defence Academy when trainees reported for duty.

Regarding Kpods, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the government will classify the anaesthetic etomidate under the Misuse of Drugs Act from Sept 1. As of Aug 12, authorities detected 29 related cases, with 9 involving import or sale and the rest illegal use. Five individuals have been charged, including a 41-year-old man who manufactured Kpods at home for sale. He was charged in July and sentenced this week to 16 months’ jail, marking the first case of its kind.

Authorities also investigated social media cases: eight people were fined for uploading vape-related photos or videos. HSA confirmed the content was removed. On June 4, following a tip-off, HSA raided a bicycle shop in Kallang, catching two 18-year-olds seen vaping online. On the same day, officers also caught two more men, aged 17 and 29, vaping at the shop. All four were fined on the spot.

From April to June, HSA prosecuted 12 people (eight men and four women, aged 17–46) for illegal sales, with penalties ranging from probation to fines and jail terms. In one case, nearly three tonnes of vapes were seized in Bishan and Ubi. Another 31 individuals who failed to pay fines faced harsher punishments compared to the 21 in the previous quarter. At the same time, HSA worked with e-commerce platforms to remove over 2,000 online vape listings, a five-fold increase from 408 in the previous quarter.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) also strengthened checks, jointly with HSA uncovering 19 large-scale smuggling cases at air, land, and sea checkpoints, seizing about 90,000 vapes and related products. Just last week, 850 vapes were seized at Singapore’s borders.

Authorities reiterated that strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to bring prohibited tobacco products into Singapore, including fines for offenders and potential prosecution of transport companies and drivers. Foreign nationals convicted will be deported after serving their sentence and barred from re-entry.

HSA added that it will continue working with police, the Central Narcotics Bureau, ICA, MINDEF, NParks, and NEA to take strong enforcement actions against the import, sale, distribution, possession, or use of vapes, especially those laced with etomidate. MINDEF and the SAF stressed that possession or use of vapes violates both military discipline and civil law, and offenders could face detention and other punishments.

Under current law, purchasing, possessing, or using vapes in Singapore is prohibited, with a maximum fine of S$2,000 (US$1,555). Importing, distributing, or selling vapes can result in fines of up to S$10,000, six months’ jail, or both, with penalties doubled for repeat offenders. Possession or use of etomidate-laced products can incur up to two years’ jail or a S$10,000 fine, and from Sept 1, penalties will increase as etomidate is classified as a Class C drug.

MOH and HSA warned users to stop vaping immediately, or they may face compulsory supervision, mandatory rehabilitation programs, admission to drug rehabilitation centers, prosecution, imprisonment, or even caning.