2 vapes & 94 Kpods found in car that crashed into taxi, 31-year-old charged with trafficking Kpods
A 31-year-old man has been charged with the trafficking of e-vaporiser pods containing etomidate, known as Kpods.
The items were found in a rental car after it was involved in an accident with a taxi earlier this month, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a press release on Wednesday (19 Aug).
Source: Health Sciences Authority, Singapore
Police search car after accident with taxi, find Kpods
On 10 Aug, the man’s rental car was involved in a road traffic accident with a taxi at an unspecified location.
Traffic Police officers, who attended to the accident, searched the car and found a total of two vapes and 94 pods.
The man was arrested and handed over to HSA to assist with investigations.
The HSA officers also took over the seized items.
Man’s urine tests positive for etomidate
Laboratory testing later confirmed that the seized pods contained etomidate.
Among the seized items, one vape and one pod were for the man’s personal consumption, while the rest were allegedly intended for supply.
Source: Health Sciences Authority, Singapore
The man underwent an instant urine test, which also turned positive for etomidate.
He subsequently admitted that he had used Kpods that morning before the accident.
Investigations into the vape and Kpod trafficking offences are ongoing.
He is also assisting in the Traffic Police’s investigations under the Road Traffic Act 1961.
Man charged with trafficking Kpods on 12 Aug
The man, Jovan Tan Jun Yuan, was charged with the alleged trafficking of Kpods on 12 Aug.
He was remanded for a week, and his case was mentioned again in court on Wednesday (19 Aug).
According to information posted on the SG Courts website, he appeared at the State Courts at 9am.
Source: SG Courts
He was offered bail of S$25,000, with his case set for further mention on 28 Sept.
Up to 10 years’ jail and caning for Kpod trafficking
HSA said it takes “a serious view” of vape and Kpod trafficking offences.
Under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993 (TVCA) — which was renamed from the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act 1993 on 1 May — etomidate and its analogues are listed as Specified Psychoactive Substances.
This means those convicted of selling and distributing Kpods face between two and 10 years in prison and between two and five strokes of the cane.
Meanwhile, importers may be jailed for three to 20 years and receive five to 15 strokes of the cane.
Also read: 23-year-old man charged with trafficking Kpods after 55 found in Hougang unit
23-year-old man charged with trafficking Kpods after 55 found in Hougang unit
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Featured image adapted from Health Sciences Authority, Singapore.
