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Health Sciences Authority
Press Releases

HSA Investigating First Suspected Transnational Etomidate Vaporiser Pod Supply Syndicate under Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act

Audiences

Consumer

Healthcare professional

Industry member

30 June 2026

On 23 June 2026, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) conducted an enforcement operation and arrested four Singaporean men allegedly involved in the supply of etomidate vaporiser pods as part of a transnational syndicate. This is the first suspected transnational etomidate vaporiser pod supply syndicate investigated under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA), and further investigations are ongoing.

2        Kong Qi Cong, aged 32, was arrested at a residential unit in Teck Whye, where 1,000 etomidate vaporiser pods and cash amounting to more than S$6,000 were seized. HSA officers also arrested Willy Poh Wei Li, aged 32, at a residential unit in Tampines, where another 111 vaporiser pods were seized. Two vehicles believed to have been used in the local distribution of the etomidate vaporiser pods, have been impounded. Laboratory testing confirmed that the seized pods contained etomidate. The 1,111 etomidate vaporiser pods seized have an estimated street value of more than S$83,000.

3        The other two men, Tobias Tan Wei An, aged 27 and Michael Jordan Tan Wei Hui, aged 31, were arrested separately and are suspected to be involved in conspiracies with other persons to supply etomidate vaporiser pods.

4        All four men were charged on 24 June 2026 and remanded for one week to assist with further investigations. The case will be mentioned in court again on 1 July 2026.

5        The arrests of the above four men follow from investigations on an importation case in May 2026 where more than S$800,000 worth of etomidate vaporiser pods were seized from two Malaysian nationals at Woodlands Checkpoint.

6        HSA takes a serious view of vaporiser and etomidate trafficking offences. Under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act, etomidate and its analogues are listed as Specified Psychoactive Substances in the Schedule. Upon conviction, suppliers face a sentence of 2 to 10 years’ imprisonment and 2 to 5 strokes of the cane, while importers face a sentence of 3 to 20 years’ imprisonment and 5 to 15 strokes of the cane.


HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
30 JUNE 2026


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