Singapore looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes
SINGAPORE – Current legislation around vaping may be strengthened following the increased detection in Singapore of electronic vaporisers containing substances such as etomidate and other controlled drugs.
Government agencies are considering further steps to better address the vaping issue, including whether current laws for enforcement can be enhanced, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Home Affairs told The Straits Times on July 12.
In response to queries, the ministries said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has already detected 28 cases where e-vaporiser pods were found to contain etomidate within the first half of 2025. This is nearly three times as many as the 10 cases detected in 2024.
Vaping was banned in Singapore in February 2018.
Between January 2024 and March 2025, HSA, which is the enforcement agency for vaping-related offences, seized more than $41 million worth of e-vaporisers and their related components
.'The trend of e-vaporisers containing psychotropic substances such as etomidate and controlled drugs has been observed overseas and now in Singapore,' the ministries said in their statement.
In April, a 13-year-old girl was detained after she was spotted behaving erratically outside the State Courts while puffing on an e-cigarette. A subsequent raid of her home found that she had an etomidate-laced device, also known as a Kpod, in her possession.
HSA later identified and caught the 25-year-old man who sold the e-vaporiser to the girl. One e-vaporiser and three pods seized from him were also found to contain etomidate.
The man, his 26-year-old wife and the teenager are all assisting in the investigation.
In their statement, the ministries described vaping as a serious issue that MOH has been concerned about. 'With e-vaporisers now incorporating psychotropic substances such as etomidate, the concerns have been heightened.'
The ministries said various agencies have been conducting rigorous enforcement to tackle the issue.
'For example, the HSA works closely with agencies such as the Singapore Police Force, Central Narcotics Bureau, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), National Parks Board and National Environment Agency (NEA), to enforce against e-vaporisers.
'The Health Promotion Board is also working with the Ministry of Education to raise awareness about the harms of vaping amongst students, and support individuals seeking to stop the habit of vaping through the I Quit Programme,' the ministries added.
As part of surveillance and enforcement efforts, the ministries said that HSA targets three key areas: monitoring activities online and at targeted hot spots, disrupting supply chains, and taking action against those who supply or use e-vaporisers.
'HSA has intensified operations against both physical and online distribution networks, strengthened border controls with ICA, and increased enforcement presence in public spaces, together with NEA, where vaping is prevalent,' the ministries said, adding that HSA also takes action against advertisements targeting Singaporeans.
As a result, more offences have been detected and offenders taken to task, they added.
The ministries noted that etomidate, which is classified as a poison and regulated under the Poisons Act, has clinical use as an anaesthetic agent. It is permitted only in clinical settings and subject to strict conditions.
'The etomidate found in e-vaporisers or supplied in oil capsules or formulations to be inhaled directly into users' lungs are not medical products and are prohibited,' the ministries said.
They added that cases involving etomidate-laced vapes that agencies come across are referred to HSA for further action, similar to other medication-related substances.
The ministries said the adverse effects of etomidate when used in vapes can be serious, including causing involuntary movements or spasm of muscles, confusion, seizures and psychosis.
'It can lead to physical dependence,' they added.
Enforcement agencies will be stepping up and coordinating closely to take stern action against those who import, sell, distribute, possess, use or purchase e-vaporisers, particularly those laced with etomidate, under the appropriate legislations, the ministries said.
The spread of drug-laced e-vaporisers has also raised concerns in Malaysia, where police revealed that 65 per cent of the vape liquids seized since 2023 contained banned substances such as synthetic cannabinoids.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had reported in May that there has been an increase in the detection of e-vaporisers laced with synthetic drugs and pharmaceutical products like etomidate in East Asia and South-east Asia.
Under current laws in Singapore, possessing, using and buying e-vaporisers carry a maximum fine of $2,000.
Distributing, importing and selling prohibited tobacco products such as vapes and their components carry a heavier penalty – a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Ukraine drone attack kills one, damages industrial facility in Saratov, Russia says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox One person was killed, and several apartments and an industrial facility were damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack on the south Russian region of Saratov, the governor said on Sunday. Roman Busargin posted on the Telegram messaging app that residents were evacuated after debris from a destroyed drone damaged three apartments in the overnight attack. "Several residents required medical assistance," Busargin said. "Aid was provided onsite, and one person has been hospitalised. Unfortunately, one person has died." Russian air defence units destroyed 121 Ukrainian drones overnight, including eight over the Saratov region, the defence ministry said. It reports only how many drones its defence units down, not how many Ukraine launches. Busargin did not specify what kind of industrial site was damaged. Social media footage showed thick black smoke rising over what looked like an industrial zone. Reuters verified the location seen in one of the videos as matching file and satellite imagery of the area. Reuters could not verify when the video was filmed. Ukrainian media, including the RBK-Ukraine media outlet, reported that the oil refinery in the city of Saratov, the administrative centre of the region, was on fire after a drone attack. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Four men arrested in Bukit Timah believed to be linked to housebreaking syndicates Singapore Criminal trial of Hyflux founder Olivia Lum and five others starts Aug 11 Singapore Profile of Kpod user has shifted from hardcore drug users to young people: Experts Tech Former data analyst creates AI tutor that assesses students based on Singapore schools' criteria Opinion I used to be impatient. Then I became a granddad Life Pixar film-maker, We Bare Bears creator Daniel Chong on the lessons his S'porean parents taught him Opinion Recognising our imperfections is part of what makes Singapore whole Business The risks of using 'decoupling' to own two properties Reuters could not verify those reports. There was no official comment from Russia. The Rosneft-owned refinery in the Saratov city was forced to suspend operations earlier this year for safety reasons after Ukrainian drone attacks, industry sources told Reuters. Russia's SHOT Telegram channel, which often publishes information from sources in the security services and law enforcement, reported about eight explosions were heard over Saratov and Engels, cities separated by the Volga River. Russia's civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia said on Telegram that flights in and out of Saratov had been halted for about two hours early on Sunday to ensure air safety. Both sides deny targeting civilians in their strikes on each other's territory in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Kyiv says its attacks inside Russia are aimed at destroying infrastructure that is key to Moscow's war efforts, including energy and military infrastructure, and are in response to Russia's continued strikes. REUTERS
Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
After almost losing Trump, Putin gets his ideal summit
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Few analysts believe the Russian leader will be content to stop the war based on a real estate negotiation alone. – In late July 2025, President Vladimir Putin of Russia was facing a stark reality: He was on the verge of losing President Donald Trump, the one Western leader possibly willing to help him get his way in Ukraine and achieve his long-held goal of rupturing the European security order. After months of trying to get Mr Putin to end the war, MrTrump had grown tired of ineffectual phone calls and talks and had begun issuing ultimatums. Even worse for Mr Putin, Mr Trump appeared to have patched up his relationship with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, despite an Oval Office blow-up earlier in 2025 , that delighted Moscow. It was not clear that Mr Trump would be able or willing to follow through on the threats he had made to put punishing tariffs on nations buying Russian oil , or what real impact such moves would have on Moscow. But Mr Trump's deadline for Mr Putin to end the war was swiftly approaching, presaging some sort of further rift between the White House and the Kremlin. So Mr Putin shifted tack ever so slightly. Despite previous refusals by Russian officials to negotiate over territory in the Russia-Ukraine war, the Russian leader, during a meeting at the Kremlin last week, left Mr Trump's special envoy, Mr Steve Witkoff, with the impression that Russia was now willing to engage in some deal-making on the question of land. 'We're going to get some back and we're going to get some switched,' Mr Trump said on Aug 8. 'There'll be some swopping of territories to the betterment of both.' By speaking a language Mr Trump understands – the language of real estate – Mr Putin secured something he had been seeking ever since January: A one-on-one meeting with the US leader, without Mr Zelensky present, to make his case and cut a deal. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Four men arrested in Bukit Timah believed to be linked to housebreaking syndicates Singapore Criminal trial of Hyflux founder Olivia Lum and five others starts Aug 11 Singapore Profile of Kpod user has shifted from hardcore drug users to young people: Experts Tech Former data analyst creates AI tutor that assesses students based on Singapore schools' criteria Opinion I used to be impatient. Then I became a granddad Life Pixar film-maker, We Bare Bears creator Daniel Chong on the lessons his S'porean parents taught him Opinion Recognising our imperfections is part of what makes Singapore whole Business The risks of using 'decoupling' to own two properties 'It has been a very good week for Putin,' said Dr Sam Greene, a professor of Russian politics at Kings College London. 'He has taken himself out of a position of significant vulnerability. He has manoeuvred this entire process into something that is more or less exactly what he needed it to be.' At the same time, tensions between Washington and Kyiv have reappeared. Mr Zelensky said on Aug 9 that the Ukrainian Constitution does not allow his government to negotiate away the country's land. Mr Trump initially told European officials that the meeting with Mr Putin would be followed by a three-way summit with both Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky. But the Kremlin quickly said no such promise had been made. The White House proceeded anyway. Few analysts believe the Russian leader will be content to stop the war based on a real estate negotiation alone. Mr Putin has made it clear that, among other things, he wants a formal promise that Ukraine will not enter Nato or any other Western military alliances, host Western troops on its territory or be allowed to build up a military that threatens Russia – making Ukraine perpetually vulnerable. 'The fundamental thing for Russia is domination,' Dr Greene said. Mr Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, said Mr Putin would come into the summit on Aug 15 in Alaska pursuing various scenarios. They include a favourable deal with Mr Trump that the US President successfully forces upon Ukraine or a favourable deal with Mr Trump that Mr Zelensky refuses, causing the United States to walk away from Ukraine, Mr Gabuev said. The third option, he noted, is that the Russian leader continues his current path for another 12 to 18 months, with the expectation that Ukraine will run out of soldiers faster than the Russian war economy runs out of steam. Mr Putin understands that Mr Trump is willing to offer things few other American leaders would ever consider, which could help Russia fracture Ukraine and divide the Western alliance. 'If you could get Trump to recognise Russia's claim to the lion's share of the territory that it has taken, understanding that the Ukrainians and the Europeans might not come along for the ride on that, you drive a long-term wedge between the US and Europe,' Dr Greene said. But despite wanting those things, Mr Putin will not stop the war for them, if getting them means agreeing to a sovereign Ukraine with a strong military, aligned with the West, that is able to make its own arms, Mr Gabuev said. 'Trump is a big opportunity for him,' Mr Gabuev said. 'I think that he understands that. But at the same time, he is not ready to pay the price of Ukraine slipping away forever.' Mr Stefan Meister, a Russia analyst at the German Council on Foreign Relations, said the two leaders would come into the summit with different goals – Mr Trump's being to end the war and Mr Putin's being a strategic repositioning of Russia. 'For Putin, it's really about bigger goals,' Mr Meister added. 'It is about his legacy. It is about where Russia will stand after this war. It is much more fundamental. This creates a different willingness to pay costs.' And despite negotiations about his country's land, Mr Zelensky will not be in the room. 'For Ukraine, it is a disaster,' Mr Meister said. THE NEW YORK TIMES
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Chinese diplomat Liu Jianchao taken in for questioning: Report
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Liu Jianchao, director general of the Department of International Cooperation of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the ruling Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog, attends a news conference in Beijing, China, January 15, Kyung-Hoon/File Photo BEIJING - Mr Liu Jianchao, a senior Chinese diplomat widely seen as a potential future foreign minister, has been taken away by authorities for questioning, the Wall Street Journal reported on Aug 10. He was taken away after returning to Beijing in late July from an overseas work trip, WSJ reported, citing people familiar with the matter. China's State Council Information Office, which handles media queries for the Chinese government, and the Chinese Communist Party International Liaison Department did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Mr Liu, 61, has led the Communist Party's body in charge of managing ties with foreign political parties. Since taking the role in 2022, he has travelled to more than 20 nations and met officials from more than 160 countries. His busy schedule, especially his meetings with the former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, stoked expectations that the former ambassador and ministry spokesman was being groomed to be the next foreign minister. His detention marks the highest-level probe involving a diplomat since China ousted its former foreign minister and President Xi Jinping's protege, Qin Gang, in 2023 following rumours of an extramarital affair. Born in the northeastern province of Jilin, Mr Liu majored in English at Beijing Foreign Studies University and studied international relations at Oxford before taking up his first post as a translator with the foreign ministry. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Four men arrested in Bukit Timah believed to be linked to housebreaking syndicates Singapore Criminal trial of Hyflux founder Olivia Lum and five others starts Aug 11 Singapore Profile of Kpod user has shifted from hardcore drug users to young people: Experts Tech Former data analyst creates AI tutor that assesses students based on Singapore schools' criteria Opinion Recognising our imperfections is part of what makes Singapore whole Opinion I used to be impatient. Then I became a granddad Business The risks of using 'decoupling' to own two properties Asia Manila struggles to keep a lasting hawker culture, casts eyes on how Asian nations lifted street food He has served in China's mission to Britain and later as ambassador to Indonesia and the Philippines. During his time as ministry spokesman, he was known for humorous off-the-cuff comments while making a no-nonsense defence of China's interests. REUTERS
