Ten Persons Convicted for Illegal Sale of Electronic Vaporisers Online; Total Fines Amount to Over $100,000

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has prosecuted ten persons for selling electronic vaporisers[1] (e-vaporisers) and related components in Singapore. They were convicted in Court in the period from November 2021 to January 2022, with total fines amounting to $104,800 (refer to Annex A for the details).

2        The convicted persons were aged between 19 and 36 years. They had purchased the e-vaporisers and related components from overseas and sold them illegally on various local social media and e-commerce platforms. More than $30,000 worth of e-vaporisers and related components were seized (refer to Annex B for photos).

HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME CASES

Offender convicted for selling on Telegram

3        Andy Yap Wen Rong, 22 years, was caught advertising and selling e-vaporisers and related components on Telegram. He would purchase and smuggle his stocks from Malaysia. Yap resorted to selling them on Telegram after his failed attempt to advertise them on Carousell. He was sentenced to a total fine of $35,000 on 25 November 2021.

 Offender caught smuggling and selling prohibited products

4        Damien Tng Jia Kang, 26 years, was caught bringing in e-vaporisers and their related components through Woodlands Checkpoint. Further investigations revealed that Tng also sold the prohibited items on WhatsApp. Tng was sentenced to a total fine of $13,500 for his offences under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act on 16 December 2021. 

Foreign student convicted for selling using multiple social media platforms

5        Chen Xin, a foreign student studying in Singapore aged 23 years, was caught dealing with duty unpaid cigarettes by the Singapore Customs. Further investigations revealed that he was also selling e-vaporisers and related components on WhatsApp and WeChat. He was sentenced to a total fine of $22,500 for the e-vaporiser related offences, and $9,500 for dealing with duty unpaid cigarettes on 6 January 2022.

E-VAPORISERS STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN SINGAPORE

6        HSA would like to remind the public that it is an offence under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act to sell, possess for sale, import or distribute e-vaporisers and their related components.  Any person who is convicted is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000, or to an imprisonment term for up to 6 months or to both for the first offence, and to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for up to 12 months or to both for the second or subsequent offence.

7        From 1 January 2018 to 31 January 2022, HSA has prosecuted 74 persons for selling e-vaporisers and their related components. The highest fine meted out so far was $99,000 for the illegal sale of these prohibited items. There was also a case where the offender was sentenced to 1 week’s imprisonment and a fine of $61,000 for selling e-vaporisers and their related components.

8        HSA conducts active online surveillance and will continue to take strong enforcement actions against those selling e-vaporisers and related components. We also work closely with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority to monitor and stop illegal imports of e-vaporisers and related components.

9        Since 1 February 2018, it is also an offence to possess, purchase or use e-vaporisers and their related components. The penalty is a fine of up to $2,000 per offence. From 1 February 2018 to 31 January 2022, 7,007 people were caught and taken to task for the possession and use of e-vaporisers and their related components. Information pertaining to the prohibition of e-vaporisers in Singapore is available on HSA’s website.

10       Members of the public who have information on the illegal import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of e-vaporisers can submit a report conveniently using the online form at go.gov.sg/reporttobaccooffences.  Alternatively, they can contact HSA’s Tobacco Regulation Branch at Tel: 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during office hours (9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday).

HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
18 FEBRUARY 2022

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[1] Electronic vaporisers refer to battery-operated devices which deliver vaporised nicotine for users to inhale. They come in forms such as e-cigarettes, e-pipes, e-cigars and the like.