ICA & HSA Joint Efforts Lead to Seizure of Electronic Vaporisers

On 9 September 2019 at about 1pm, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Changi Airfreight Centre detected a consignment of 31 parcels containing 27 sets of electronic vaporisers (e-vaporisers) and 400 pieces of related accessories, which are prohibited in Singapore. Their suspicions were aroused when they observed anomalies in the scanned images of the parcels. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) was alerted and conducted further investigations.

2          HSA conducted house searches of the consignees on 12 and 13 September and seized additional sets of e-vaporisers and accessories, bringing the total number seized by the authorities to 63 sets of e-vaporisers and 2,368 e-vaporiser accessories, with a street value of $29,460 (Photos in Annex A). Eleven suspects are currently assisting HSA in investigations. The suspects had made online orders of e-vaporisers from overseas sellers in an attempt to evade the law by declaring them as toys.

E-vaporisers are strictly prohibited in Singapore

3          HSA takes a serious view on the smuggling and peddling of e-vaporisers and will continue to clamp down on such activities.  Ground operations conducted by HSA from January to August 2019 had put a stop to the illegal activities of 43 such peddlers operating in Singapore. HSA will continue to work closely with ICA through online surveillance and strict border checks to curb the smuggling and peddling of such products.

4          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.           

5          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).

Consumer Advisory

6          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.

7          Safeguarding Singapore’s borders remains ICA’s top priority. 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.  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.

HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY 
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
18 SEPTEMBER 2019

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