Delivery rider caught with 124 Kpods during police operation in Jurong East
A delivery rider has been charged with trafficking e-vaporiser pods laced with etomidate, known as ‘Kpods’, after being caught with the illegal items in Jurong East.
The Kpods were allegedly intended to be delivered to customers, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a press release on Thursday (29 Oct).
Source: Health Sciences Authority, Singapore
3 Kpods found in delivery rider’s possession, 121 in his pouch & motorcycle
On 20 Oct, 38-year-old Ong Zhiyong Jeremy was detained by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in Jurong East.
This was during an enforcement operation being conducted by the police.
He was found with three vape pods in an envelope, which were seized by the police.
Officers then searched his vehicle and found another 121 pods in his pouch and motorcycle.
The suspect was working as a delivery rider, with the pods allegedly intended to be delivered to customers, HSA said.
Source: Health Sciences Authority, Singapore
HSA took over investigations at the scene, and laboratory testing confirmed that the seized pods contained etomidate.
Delivery rider charged with trafficking Kpods on 22 Oct
On 22 Oct, Ong was charged in court with the alleged trafficking of Kpods, and remanded for a week to assist with further investigations.
His case was heard in court again on Thursday. 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 10 Dec.
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: Man charged with trafficking Kpods was allegedly caught dealing at Bukit Batok HDB staircase
Man charged with trafficking Kpods was allegedly caught dealing at Bukit Batok HDB staircase
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Featured image adapted from Health Sciences Authority, Singapore.
