Over 350,000 vapes worth S$6 million meant for sale on Telegram seized in latest crackdown

SINGAPORE: More than 350,000 vape products were seized during raids across various locations in June as part of ramped-up efforts to enforce Singapore’s ban on vapes, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Thursday (Jul 4).

The vape products are worth more than S$6 million (US$4.4 million) in street value and had been meant for sale on messaging app Telegram.

The Jun 14 to Jun 18 raids at three different locations disrupted "one of the largest" e-vaporiser distribution networks in Singapore, said HSA.

The authority said that it received information on a large quantity of e-vaporisers and components found in a storage unit at Woodlands Loop on Jun 14.

Follow-up investigations led to two more raids - at a Guillemard Crescent condominium unit on the same day and a warehouse unit at Woodlands Industrial Park on Jun 18. More vape products were found at both locations, said HSA.

Fourteen vapes suspected to contain a controlled drug, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, were also found and handed over to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).

Two men and two women aged between 34 and 52 are assisting with HSA's and CNB's investigations.

HSA said that more than S$18 million worth of vape products have been seized since January.

The authority warned that the import, distribution, sale or advertising of vape products is prohibited.

Those convicted for the first time over importing, distributing or selling vape products can face a fine of up to S$10,000, a jail term of up to six months or both. 

For second and subsequent offences, those convicted may face a fine of up to S$20,000, a jail term of up to 12 months, or both.

The purchase, use and possession of vapes is illegal and carries a maximum fine of S$2,000. 

ONGOING CRACKDOWN ON VAPES

Last year, Singapore authorities handled around 8,000 vaping-related offences, a 43 per cent jump from the figure of 5,600 in 2022. A total of 7,600 offences were recorded in 2021.  

In December last year, the authorities said they would step up checks at Singapore's border checkpoints for e-vaporisers and their components, and at “public hotspots” to catch vapers. 

From Jan 1 to Mar 31, more than 2,200 people were found using or owning vapes.

In May, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam also said HSA was reviewing legal penalties to strengthen deterrence against the advertising, importation and distribution of e-vaporisers.

She added HSA has been monitoring illicit sales of vape products on social media, e-commerce and messaging platforms, as well as carrying out operations to remove e-vaporiser content.