According to a report by Lianhe Zaobao on February 19, the Singapore Health Sciences Authority recently revealed that the number of e-cigarette smuggling cases has decreased from 152 in 2022 to 67 in 2024. Authorities have stated that they will continue to cooperate with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to enhance border checks in order to curb the smuggling of e-cigarettes into the country.
On Tuesday (18th), when Member of Parliament She Shamsha in the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC queried the Health Sciences Authority about an increase in the number of cases of e-cigarettes being smuggled into the country over the past three years, Health Minister Wong Yik Kang disclosed the relevant statistical data on the aforementioned cases of e-cigarette smuggling.
Wang Yikang stated that due to e-cigarettes being legal in some neighboring countries, cross-border law enforcement cooperation is somewhat limited. Nevertheless, the Department of Health will continue to collaborate with the Immigration and Customs Department to strengthen inspection measures in order to detect and prevent the smuggling of e-cigarettes into the country, thus disrupting the supply chain.
Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Law Shanmugam also stated that the Central Narcotics Bureau, Health Sciences Authority, and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority are collaborating on checkpoint enforcement, detecting and seizing controlled drugs being smuggled into the country, including drugs hidden in e-cigarette devices.
Shang Mugen pointed out that Immigration and Customs will conduct a risk assessment on incoming passengers and goods in advance. Those passengers or goods assessed as high risk will undergo more detailed inspections before entering the country.
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