On April 3rd, according to CNA, Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) conducted a surprise inspection of a warehouse and seized over 85,000 e-cigarettes and related components. This marks the largest seizure of e-cigarette products by the HSA.
Dismantling of illegal e-cigarette syndicate.
Electronic cigarettes and components found in warehouse | Photo: Singapore Health Sciences Authority
According to a joint press release by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and the police on April 3, HSA discovered leads to the criminal activities of a group involved in illegal trading of electronic cigarettes during their investigation, and subsequently planned a raid.
On March 28th, the police detained six members of a criminal gang in a parking lot.
The HSA has reported that a delivery truck driver was caught distributing parcels containing e-cigarettes to five individuals, with the intention of assisting in their delivery to the recipients.
The following day, investigators from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) monitored a warehouse unit in Mandai, suspecting that there were electronic cigarette supplies awaiting collection by delivery personnel.
In a subsequent raid, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) confiscated over 85,000 electronic cigarette products and arrested five suspects, aged 20 to 33, who were employed as couriers in the warehouse. They are currently assisting the HSA in their investigation.
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and the police have announced that a 72-hour operation has resulted in the dismantling of an illegal electronic cigarette syndicate.
Singapore imposes heavy fines for illegal e-cigarette activities.
According to the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act in Singapore, it is illegal to import, sell, or distribute electronic cigarette products. For first-time offenders, they may be fined up to 10,000 Singapore Dollars (approximately 50,000 Chinese Yuan), face a maximum of 6 months in prison, or both penalties.
For repeat offenses, fines will be doubled, with a maximum penalty of 20,000 Singapore dollars (equivalent to approximately 100,000 yuan), accompanied by a potential prison sentence of up to one year.
It is reported that using e-cigarettes is illegal in Singapore. The purchase, use, and possession of e-cigarette liquid are also prohibited. In 2021, law enforcement officials seized over 2.2 million Singapore dollars (about 11.38 million yuan) worth of e-cigarette products. Investigation data from the same year showed that over 4,600 people in the country were arrested for purchasing, using, or possessing e-cigarettes.
Further reading:
Teenage Use of E-cigarettes Widespread in Singapore.
References:
In a recent warehouse raid, Singapore authorities made a significant seizure of more than 85,000 vape products, marking a new record for the country.
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