HSA Charges 23-Year-Old for Alleged Trafficking of Etomidate E-vaporiser Pods

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has charged a 23-year-old man, Basil Wang Zhuang Zhen, in court on 4 December 2025 for the alleged trafficking of etomidate e-vaporiser pods. 

2     On 2 December 2025 evening, a disposable e-vaporiser was found in the accused’s rental vehicle at Woodlands Checkpoint upon arrival. HSA officers were activated onsite, which led to an enforcement operation at his residence in the early morning of 3 December 2025. During the operation, HSA officers found and seized 33 e-vaporisers and pods, 104 bottles of cough syrup, prescription medicines including over 3,500 tablets of diazepam and codeine phosphate. Of the items seized, 28 e-vaporiser pods, and the 104 bottles of cough syrup and all the tablets were meant for sale. Laboratory testing confirmed that the seized pods contained etomidate, and investigations are ongoing. Charges for the alleged supply of cough syrup and prescription medicines are also pending for further investigation. 

3     The case has been adjourned to 14 January 2026. 

4     HSA takes a serious view of e-vaporiser and etomidate trafficking offences and illegal activities involving health products. Importers, sellers and distributors of etomidate e-vaporisers now face stiffer penalties. These include 3 to 20 years’ imprisonment and 5 to 15 strokes of the cane for importers, and 2 to 10 years’ imprisonment and 2 to 5 strokes of the cane for sellers and distributors. Anyone caught importing, manufacturing and/or supplying of illegal health products is liable on conviction, to an imprisonment term for up to 2 years and/or fined up to $50,000.