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Health Sciences Authority
Press Releases

25-Year-Old Man Arrested for Smuggling of More Than 9,200 E-vaporiser Pods into Singapore

Audiences

Consumer

Healthcare professional

Industry member

Product type

Tobacco control

30 September 2025

This article has been migrated from an earlier version of the site and may display formatting inconsistencies.

On 17 September 2025, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at Pasir Panjang Scanning Station detected more than 9,200 e-vaporiser pods, in an inbound cargo container that was targeted for enhanced checks. The e-vaporiser pods were concealed in a consignment declared as “Power Bank”. The case was referred to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for further investigations. 

2     A joint operation by HSA and the Criminal Investigation Department of the Singapore Police Force on 18 September 2025 swiftly established the identity of a 25-year-old Singaporean man involved with the consignment. He was subsequently arrested for his suspected involvement in the importation of the e-vaporiser pods under Section 16(2) of the Tobacco (Control of Advertisement and Sale) Act 1993. In addition to the foiled attempt to smuggle e-vaporiser pods into Singapore, the man was found to be in possession of another 85 e-vaporisers and its related components. The total estimated street value of the seized e-vaporisers and its related components are more than $51,000.

3     Investigations are ongoing.

4     Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, it is an offence to import, distribute, sell or offer for sale e-vaporisers and their components. Any person convicted of an offence is liable to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to six months or both for the first offence, and a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months or both for the second or subsequent offence. 

5     Under the enhanced enforcement framework that came into force on 1 September 2025, individuals found possessing, using, or purchasing e-vaporisers now face higher penalties and recalcitrant users will be required to undergo rehabilitation. Those who do not complete the rehabilitation programme will be prosecuted. Offenders caught using e-vaporisers for the third time and more will be prosecuted in court under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act 1993 and be liable for a fine of up to $2,000.

SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINT AUTHORITY

HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY 

30 SEPTEMBER 2025 @ 10.00AM

Download PDF version here [PDF, 693 KB]

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