HSA Seizes More than $1.1 Million Worth of Vaporisers – Largest Seizure Since 1 September 2025
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) conducted an operation on 24 February 2026 which resulted in the seizure of almost 67,000 vaporisers and related components worth an estimated street value of more than $1.1 million.
2 HSA mounted an operation against an illegal shipment of vaporisers and caught a 29-year-old man based on intelligence received. Follow-up investigations revealed that the subject was in charge of a commercial warehouse located in Mandai, which was found to be storing large amounts of vaporisers for local distribution. He was arrested for his suspected involvement in the importation of the vaporisers and related components. Investigations are ongoing.
3 Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, it is an offence to import, distribute, sell or offer for sale 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.
4 From 1 May 2026, new and enhanced penalties under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA) will be in force, targeting importers and suppliers of the prohibited products, as well as occupiers and owners of premises who do not comply with the measures, among other enforcement actions. Importers of vaporisers will face mandatory imprisonment for up to nine years, and a fine of up to $300,000; suppliers will face mandatory imprisonment for up to six years, and a fine of up to $200,000.
5 Under the TVCA, owners and occupiers of land, buildings and places must exercise due care to prevent the storage of prohibited products, such as vaporisers in their premises. This may involve conducting tenant verification, explicit tenancy agreement clauses on prohibited activities, and ad-hoc inspections. Owners or occupiers of any land, building or place in Singapore, who permit or allow any other person to store or keep such products or their components without exercising due care face a fine of up to $100,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years, or both for the first offence, and a fine of up to $200,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 years, or both for the second offence. HSA has published a handbook on exercising due care to support compliance efforts.
6 Members of the public who have information on the illegal advertising, import, distribution, sale or possession of vaporisers can contact HSA to support our enforcement efforts through two convenient channels:
- Submit information through our online reporting form: www.go.gov.sg/reportvape or scan the QR code:
- Call HSA at Tel: 6684 2036 or 6684 2037, operational daily, including weekends and public holidays, from 9am to 9pm.
HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
13 MARCH 2026
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Consumer, Healthcare professional, Industry member, Tobacco control
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