Latest news with #Tobacco(ControlofAdvertisementsandSale)Act
The Star
17-05-2025
- The Star
Over 17.900 people caught for vape possession and use in Singapore
HSA and MOH said e-vaporisers and related components worth more than $41 million were seized in the 15-month period between January 2024 and March 2025. -- PHOTO: ST FILE SINGAPORE (Bernama): Over 17,900 individuals were caught for the possession and use of e-vaporisers in Singapore from January last year to March this year, following intensified enforcement by multi-agencies. The Health Ministry (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA), in a joint statement, said that more than S$41 million (S$1=RM3.30) worth of e-vaporisers and related components were seized during the same period. "HSA also prosecuted 60 persons aged 17 to 43 for selling e-vaporisers, including two key individuals involved in a syndicate case worth over S$5 million,' the statement said on Friday. They were each sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and fined S$14,000 and S$16,000 respectively -- the highest sentences to date for smuggling e-vaporisers. Separately, a key figure in another syndicate linked to a case involving more than S$6.5 million worth of e-vaporisers was also apprehended in October 2024, and investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, 101 individuals were caught with e-vaporisers during operations at Singapore's border checkpoints. "Travellers bringing prohibited tobacco products into Singapore will be fined, and transport companies and drivers involved in importing these products are liable to prosecution,' the statement added. MOH and HSA said that convicted foreigners will be deported and barred from re-entering Singapore. Additionally, more than 6,800 listings of e-vaporisers and related components online were removed, while 15 persons were also identified and fined for posting photographs or videos of e-vaporisers on their social media accounts during the same period. Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, the possession, use, or purchase of e-vaporisers carries a maximum fine of S$2,000. It is also an offence to import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale e-vaporisers and their components. Any person convicted of such an offence is liable to a fine of up to S$10,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both for a first offence; and a fine of up to S$20,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both for a second or subsequent offence. - Bernama
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Girl, 13, among 3 probed for offences linked to ‘Kpod' drug-laced vapes: HSA
SINGAPORE – The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) raided a teenager's home after she was seen behaving erratically while vaping in public outside the State Courts on April 24. In a statement on May 13, HSA said it had been alerted then to the 13-year-old girl, who was observed to be 'unsteady in gait and appeared to be oblivious of her surroundings; a sign of possible drug intoxication'. The authority subsequently identified her, and, in the raid on her residence, seized an e-vaporiser that was tested and found to contain etomidate – a medicinal ingredient used in clinical practice as an anaesthetic agent. Vapes that contain vape juice mixed with potent ingredients like etomidate or ketamine are known as Kpods. 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 an investigation into the case. Etomidate is a potent ingredient that should be administered only under medical supervision, said HSA. Adverse effects of etomidate include nausea and vomiting, uncontrollable movements or spasms of muscles, changes to breathing and blood pressure, seizures, psychosis and physical dependence. In a separate case, HSA identified a 36-year-old man seen vaping on an MRT train in a video posted on social media on April 18. HSA raided the man's residence but did not find any e-vaporisers, with the man claiming he had thrown his vape away. The authority is investigating the case. Vaping is illegal in Singapore. The purchase, possession and use of e-vaporisers are prohibited under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, and this includes those bought online or from overseas. Offenders can be fined up to $2,000. Those found with pods containing etomidate can also be charged under the Poisons Act. Those convicted can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $10,000, or both. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
AsiaOne
13-05-2025
- Health
- AsiaOne
Girl, 13, caught using drug-laced vape outside State Courts among 3 people being investigated by HSA, Singapore News
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) raided the home of a 13-year-old girl after she was caught behaving erratically and vaping outside the State Courts. According to a statement by HSA on Tuesday (May 13), she was vaping publicly and appeared "unsteady in gait" outside the courts on April 24. After she was identified, the authority raided her house and seized one e-vaporiser. Further testing revealed that the e-vaporiser contains etomidate — a controlled substance used in clinical practice as an anaesthetic agent. Adverse effects of etomidate include nausea and vomiting, uncontrollable movement or spasm of muscles, changes to breathing and blood pressure, seizures and psychosis. HSA subsequently identified and caught the 25-year-old male who sold the e-vaporiser to the teenager, seizing one e-vaporiser and three pods containing etomidate from his possession. The man, his 26-year-old wife, and the teenager are currently assisting with HSA's investigation. In a separate incident, the authority identified a 36-year-old man who was filmed vaping on an MRT train on April 18. Officials raided his house but did not find any e-vaporiser. He claimed that he had thrown it away. The case is being investigated. Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, purchase, possession and use of e-vaporisers are prohibited, including purchases made online and from overseas. Offenders can be fined up to $2,000, and those possessing or using pods containing etomidate can face a maximum penalty of imprisonment for up to two years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, under the Poisons Act. HSA encourages those with information on the illegal import, distribution or sale of e-vaporisers to contact the Tobacco Regulation Branch at 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during office hours. Those who witness vaping activities may also report offenders to the authority. [[nid:716393]]
New Paper
13-05-2025
- Health
- New Paper
Girl, 13, among 3 probed for offences linked to etomidate-laced vapes: HSA
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) raided a teenager's home after she was seen behaving erratically while vaping in public outside the State Courts on April 24. In a statement on May 13, HSA said that it had been alerted then that the 13-year-old girl was observed to be "unsteady in gait and appeared to be oblivious of her surroundings; a sign of possible drug intoxication". The authority subsequently identified her, and in the raid on her residence, seized one e-vaporiser that was tested to contain etomidate - a medicinal ingredient used in clinical practice as an anaesthetic agent. The authority then also 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 an investigation into the case. Etomidate is a potent ingredient that should be administered only under medical supervision, said HSA. Adverse effects of etomidate include nausea and vomiting, uncontrollable movement or spasm of muscles, changes to breathing and blood pressure, seizures and psychosis as well as physical dependence. In a separate incident, HSA identified a 36-year-old man who was filmed vaping on an MRT train in a video posted on social media on April 18. HSA raided the man's residence, but did not find any e-vaporisers, and the man claimed he had thrown it away. The authority is investigating the case. Screen capture of a social media video showing a man vaping on a train. PHOTO: HSA Vaping is illegal in Singapore. The purchase, possession and use of e-vaporisers are prohibited under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, including those bought online or from overseas. Offenders can be fined up to $2,000. Those found with pods containing etomidate can also be charged under the Poisons Act. Those convicted can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $10,000, or both.
Straits Times
13-05-2025
- Straits Times
Girl, 13, among 3 probed for offences linked to ‘Kpod' drug-laced vapes: HSA
E-vaporiser seized from the girl (left) and e-vaporisers and pods seized from the 25-year-old male seller. PHOTOS: HSA SINGAPORE – The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) raided a teenager's home after she was seen behaving erratically while vaping in public outside the State Courts on April 24 . In a statement on May 13, HSA said that it had been alerted then that the 13-year-old girl was observed to be 'unsteady in gait and appeared to be oblivious of her surroundings; a sign of possible drug intoxication'. The authority subsequently identified her, and in the raid on her residence, seized one e-vaporiser that was tested to contain etomidate - a medicinal ingredient used in clinical practice as an anaesthetic agent. Vapes that contain vape juice mixed with potent ingredients like etomidate or ketamine are known as Kpods. 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 an investigation into the case. Etomidate is a potent ingredient that should be administered only under medical supervision, said HSA. Adverse effects of etomidate include nausea and vomiting, uncontrollable movement or spasm of muscles, changes to breathing and blood pressure, seizures and psychosis as well as physical dependence. In a separate incident, HSA identified a 36-year-old man who was filmed vaping on an MRT train in a video posted on social media on April 18 . HSA raided the man's residence, but did not find any e-vaporisers, and the man claimed he had thrown it away. The authority is investigating the case. Screen capture of a social media video showing a man vaping on a train. PHOTO: HSA Vaping is illegal in Singapore. The purchase, possession and use of e-vaporisers are prohibited under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, including those bought online or from overseas. Offenders can be fined up to $2,000. Those found with pods containing etomidate can also be charged under the Poisons Act. Those convicted can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $10,000, or both. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
