Press Releases
Electronic Vaporiser Smuggler's Plans Go Up in Smoke Through Joint Agency Efforts
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Consumer
Healthcare professional
Industry member
Product type
Others
11 July 2019
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On 5 July 2019, vigilant Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Woodlands Checkpoint detected six sets of electronic vaporisers (e-vaporisers) and 223 electronic liquid cartridges concealed in an arriving Singapore-registered car’s gear shift compartment.
2 The driver, a 27-year-old male Singaporean, who was suspected to be under the influence of drugs, was subsequently referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for investigations.
3 Further investigations uncovered that the suspect had hidden another 26 sets of e-vaporisers and 412 electronic liquid cartridges in a SingPost POPStation. (Photos in Annex A). The suspect is currently assisting CNB and HSA in the investigations.
E-vaporisers are strictly prohibited in Singapore
4 HSA takes a very serious view of the smuggling and peddling of e-vaporisers and will continue to clamp down on such activities. Ground operations conducted by HSA from April to June 2019 had put a stop to the activities of 15 such peddlers operating in Singapore. These cases are currently under investigations.
5 Offenders can be fined up to $10,000 or jailed up to six months or both. The use, purchase or possession of electronic vaporisers is also an offence, punishable with a fine up to $2,000.
Public Advisory
6 Members of the public who have information on the illegal importation, distribution or sales of e-vaporisers can contact the Tobacco Regulation Branch at Tel: 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during office hours (9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday).
7 The public should not purchase any e-vaporisers, including through the Internet, to be brought into Singapore. The public should also refrain from using e-vaporisers and discard any e-vaporisers they have in possession. Individuals seeking to quit smoking should seek professional medical advice. Advice and support on smoking cessation is also available through the toll-free Quitline at 1800 438 2000 or the iQuit club at www.iquitclub.sg.
8 Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore’s security. ICA will continue to conduct security checks on passengers, cargos and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands across our borders. The same methods of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore.
HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
11 JULY 2019