Man convicted of importing Kpods also consumed Kpods before entering S’pore
A 39-year-old man has been sentenced to imprisonment and caning for importing e-vaporiser pods containing etomidate, also known as ‘Kpods’.
He was caught at Woodlands Checkpoint with 208 Kpods that were hidden in detergent powder, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a press release on Friday (2 Oct).
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority via Facebook
Man offered job importing vape pods by Telegram contact
On 5 Jan, Png Swee Sheng was contacted over Telegram by an acquaintance named “Pod”, according to HSA investigations.
He was offered a job delivering vape pods into Singapore, which would pay between S$500 and S$800.
Despite knowing that vapes are illegal in Singapore, he agreed to do it as he needed money.
Man picks up items at JB mall but gets stopped while returning to S’pore
On 6 Feb, “Pod” instructed Png to drive to a mall in Johor Bahru to collect the items.
More details about the delivery would be furnished when he entered Singapore, he was told.
However, he was stopped while attempting to return to Singapore in a rental car at the Woodlands Checkpoint.
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers referred him for further checks.
2 vapes & 208 vape pods found in car
During the inspection, ICA found two packages labelled as “laundry detergent powder” in the boot of his car.
They contained two vapes and 210 vape pods.
Source: Health Sciences Authority, Singapore
Png was subsequently arrested and his case referred to HSA.
Man also consumed Kpods before entering S’pore
HSA laboratory tests later confirmed that 208 of the seized pods contained etomidate.
A urine test was also administered to Png, whose samples tested positive for etomidate.
He admitted to consuming Kpods on or before 6 Feb, before entering Singapore.
Source: Health Sciences Authority, Singapore
Man charged with importing Kpods on 10 Feb
On 10 Feb, Png was charged with importing Kpods by HSA.
At the time of his offence, etomidate was classified as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 (MDA).
Under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993 (TVCA) — which was renamed from the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act 1993 and took effect on 1 May — the penalties for importing Kpods are similar.
Man is 1st person convicted & sentenced for importing Kpods
Eventually, Png was sentenced to three years in prison and five strokes of the cane — the minimum sentence for importers.
He is the first person to be convicted and sentenced for importing Kpods under the MDA, HSA said.
HSA said it takes “a serious view” of vape importation and supply offences, particularly involving Kpods.
It noted that etomidate and its analogues are listed as Specified Psychoactive Substances in the TVCA.
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: 24-year-old man charged with importing Kpods after 100 found in his car at Woodlands Checkpoint
24-year-old man charged with importing Kpods after 100 found in his car at Woodlands Checkpoint
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Featured image adapted from Health Sciences Authority, Singapore.
