A 23-year-old man has been charged with the trafficking of e-vaporiser pods containing etomidate, known as Kpods.
The items were found in his residence in Hougang during an enforcement operation, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a press release on Friday (7 Aug).
Source: Health Sciences Authority
After receiving a tip-off, HSA proceeded to conduct an enforcement operation at the man’s Hougang residence on 30 July.
During the search, the officers seized two vapes and 55 pods.
Laboratory testing confirmed that the seized pods contained etomidate.
Source: Health Sciences Authority
Investigations are ongoing.
The man, Dean Daniel Ong, was charged with Kpod trafficking on 31 July.
He was remanded for one week to assist with further investigations, and his case was mentioned again in court on Friday (7 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$20,000, with his case set for further mention on 18 Sept.
He is being represented by Invictus Law Corporation.
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 and came into force on 1 May — etomidate and its analogues are listed as Specified Psychoactive Substances.
That 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.
Importers may be jailed for three to 20 years and receive five to 15 strokes of the cane.
Also read: 26-year-old man charged with trafficking Kpods after he was found with 4 in Geylang
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Featured image adapted from Health Sciences Authority.