Authorities revoked the work permit of a Taiwanese man after they found him with an e-vaporiser pod containing etomidate, also known as a Kpod.
He was subsequently repatriated from Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a joint press release on Thursday (18 Dec).
Source: @hsa.singapore on Instagram. Photo for illustration purposes only.
The 26-year-old man was found in possession of a Kpod on 21 Oct, MOH and HSA said.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) revoked his work permit, and he has already been repatriated.
The authorities reminded foreigners living in Singapore to abide by the local laws and regulations.
If they fail to do so, authorities may revoke their work passes and bar them from working in Singapore.
Source: Matic Grmek on Canva. Photo for illustration purposes only.
Since 1 Sept, authorities have stiffened the penalties for vaping. If officers catch foreigners with Kpods or if they test positive for etomidate, ICA may revoke their pass or immigration facility. Authorities may also deport them and bar them from re-entering Singapore.
For example, authorities revoked a 15-year-old girl’s Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) last month after officers found her with a Kpod.
This marked the first case in which authorities revoked a foreigner’s long-term immigration facility over Kpod possession.
Authorities issued her a Special Pass so she can remain in Singapore to assist with ongoing police investigations into other criminal offences. However, authorities will deport her and ban her from re-entering Singapore after they conclude her police case.
MOH and HSA said officers caught and fined 2,710 people for vaping-related offences from 1 Sept to 30 Nov.
They said the total included 2,453 “general e-vaporiser offenders” and 257 people whom authorities confirmed had Kpods.
Among those who abused Kpods, authorities repatriated six foreigners or are repatriating them.
162 are on rehabilitation programmes at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Social Service Agencies (SSAs), while 18 are in jail for unrelated offences. One received a conditional warning.
Investigations into the remaining 70 individuals are ongoing.
Of the 162 Kpod abusers on rehab, the vast majority — 158 — have been compliant, MOH and HSA said.
Authorities charged three of the four defaulters in court under the Poisons Act after they missed their first rehab appointments. They may face up to two years’ jail.
One remaining defaulter is under investigation.
On 27 Nov, authorities admitted a 16-year-old Singaporean boy to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC), making him the first etomidate abuser to enter the DRC since they classified etomidate and its analogues as Class C controlled drugs under the MDA on 1 Sept.
At the DRC, a facility under the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) and part of the Changi Prison Complex, he will undergo rehabilitation programmes to address his risk of re-offending.
Source: Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim on Facebook
The boy is a repeat offender, as authorities caught him for etomidate-related offences on three occasions. This includes 23 Oct, when they found him slurring and behaving abnormally in a private-hire vehicle.
Also read: Man fined S$14K for posting videos of himself vaping online, first HSA prosecution in S’pore
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Featured image adapted from @hsa.singapore on Instagram and Matic Grmek on Canva. Photos for illustration purposes only.