Singapore confiscates 90,000 vape items as number of violators jumps

In the same period, over 3,700 individuals were caught possessing or using vapes, up 20% from the first quarter, according to a recent report on the Ministry of Health’s website.

A person uses an e-cigarette to smoke. Photo by Unsplash/ Clear Cannabis

As of Aug. 12, 29 cases involving etomidate-laced vapes, known as Kpods, were detected, with nine cases linked to importation or sale and the remaining cases involving illegal use.

Singapore authorities also took to social media to deal with vapes.

In the second quarter they issued fines to eight individuals who shared photos or videos of themselves with vapes on social media. These individuals have since removed the content.

They also collaborated with e-commerce and social media platforms to remove over 2,000 online listings for vapes and their components, a fourfold increase from the 408 listings removed in the prior quarter.

Five individuals are facing court charges for importing or selling Kpods.

One case involved a man who produced Kpods in his Yishun flat with the intent to sell them. On Aug. 26, he was sentenced to 16 months in prison and fined $400 in Singapore’s first Kpod-related conviction.

Vaping was banned in Singapore in February 2018.

From January last year to March this year, Singapore authorities confiscated e-vaporizers and their related components valued at over SGD41 million (US$32 million).

Possessing, using and buying e-vaporizers carry a maximum fine of SGD2,000 in the country, according to The Straits Times.

Distributing, importing and selling prohibited tobacco products such as vapes and their components carry a heavier penalty – a fine of up to SGD10,000, or imprisonment of up to six months, or both.