A 33-year-old man has been arrested and charged with multiple offences, including importing and distributing e-vaporisers into Singapore.
He was also allegedly involved in supplying them to locals.
Source: Dip Devices on Unsplash. Photo for illustration purposes only.
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) conducted a joint operation on 10 Oct, according to a joint statement by the two agencies on Friday (18 Oct).
It targeted islandwide activities by a suspected e-vaporiser syndicate.
During the operation, a 33-year-man was arrested, it said, adding:
The arrest was linked to an ongoing investigation of the seizure of e-vaporisers worth over S$6.5 million by HSA.
As the man was arrested, a number of e-vaporisers, or vapes, and components were seized from him.
According to preliminary investigations, he allegedly orchestrated the importation and distribution of vapes from Malaysia into Singapore, the statement said.
He has also allegedly been supplying vapes to local residents.
In fact, he is believed to be a “key figure” behind a vape syndicate.
The man was charged in court on 11 Oct with multiple offences under the Penal Code 1871, including:
For obstructing the course of justice under Section 204A of the Penal Code, he faces a jail term of up to seven years and/or a fine.
If convicted of abetment of housebreaking under Section 451 read with Section 109 of the Penal Code, he will get a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
Those found guilty of abetment of cheating and dishonestly inducing a delivery of property under Section 420 read with Section 109 of the Penal Code may get a jail term of up to three years and/or a fine.
He was also charged with the import and distribution of e-vaporisers under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act 1993.
Offenders convicted are liable to a fine of up to S$10,000 and/or a jail term of up to six months for the first offence
For the second and subsequent offences, those found guilty face a fine of up to S$20,000 and/or a jail term of up to 12 months.
The man was identified by The Straits Times (ST) as Chua Wee Ming, a Malaysian.
On 19 March he allegedly possessed multiple vaping-related products for sale, including more than 350,000 pods and nearly 160,000 disposable vapes.
Later that month, between 23 and 26 March, he allegedly engaged in a conspiracy with three other men to housebreak into a warehouse and steal vaping-related items worth more than S$6 million.
The three men were named as 36-year-old Chee Wai Yuen, a Malaysian, and 22-year-old Elvin Suriaganandhan and 39-year-old Lim Zhi Wei, both Singaporeans.
Each of them were charged with housebreaking in March.
HSA seized the products in March from a warehouse whose location cannot be revealed.
Chua was slapped with nine charges when he appeared in court again on Friday (18 Oct).
His case has been adjourned to 25 Oct.
Also read: Vape products worth over S$5M seized in Woodlands, 2 Thai men arrested
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Featured image adapted from Health Sciences Authority & Singapore Police Force.
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