56 vapes & 247 Kpods found in Marsiling rental flat, 27-year-old charged with trafficking Kpods
A 27-year-old man has been charged with the trafficking of e-vaporiser pods containing etomidate, also known as Kpods.
The items were found at a rental flat in Marsiling during an enforcement operation, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a press release on Friday (21 Aug).
Source: Health Sciences Authority, Singapore
Man arrested during police raids on moneylending syndicate
On 12 Aug, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) conducted an operation targeting members of an unlicensed moneylending syndicate.
According to an SPF news release, this involved simultaneous raids at multiple locations islandwide.
During the raids, eight men and three women aged between 18 and 77 were arrested, including Felix Chan Zhi Hao, who was nabbed at his rental unit in Marsiling.
Source: Singapore Police Force
Police find 247 Kpods found in Marsiling flat
When officers searched the flat, they uncovered 56 vapes, 247 vape pods and a vape battery.
HSA was alerted and took over the seized items.
After laboratory testing, it was confirmed that the seized vape pods contained etomidate.
Source: Health Sciences Authority, Singapore
Man used Kpods the night before arrest
Chan himself was given an instant urine test and tested positive for etomidate.
He later admitted that he had used Kpods the night before his arrest.
In fact, some of the vapes and pods seized were for his personal consumption, but the majority of the items were allegedly intended for distribution.
Investigations are ongoing.
Man charged with trafficking Kpods on 20 Aug
On Thursday (20 Aug), Chan was charged with the alleged trafficking of Kpods after being remanded for a week following his arrest.
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$30,000, with his case set for further mention on 1 Oct.
He was previously charged under the Moneylenders Act 2008 on 13 Aug with allegedly assisting in the business of an unlicensed moneylending syndicate.
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.
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Featured image adapted from Health Sciences Authority, Singapore and Singapore Police Force.
