8 fined for posting vaping content on social media from April to June
Over the past three months, authorities have intensified their anti-vaping efforts and fined eight people for posting vaping content on social media.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a joint press release on Tuesday (26 Aug) that the cases included two 18-year-olds who vaped at a bicycle shop in Kallang.
Source: Health Sciences Authority
Social media vaping content was in the form of photos and videos
The eight people had posted photographs or videos of themselves with e-vaporisers — AKA vapes — on their social media accounts, MOH and HSA said.
Source: Health Sciences Authority
This occurred over three months, from April to June 2025.
Source: Health Sciences Authority
All of them have been identified and fined, with their content since removed.
2 teens seen vaping at Kallang bicycle shop in social media posts
Among the cases were two 18-year-old boys who vaped at a bicycle shop in Kallang in a social media video.
HSA was tipped off to the video and proceeded to visit the bicycle shop on the same day.
Source: Health Sciences Authority
There, they caught another two males, aged 17 and 29, red-handed while vaping.
HSA fined all four individuals on the spot.
The homes of the two 18-year-old boys were also raided on 4 June.
More than 5 times the number of vape-related listings removed
HSA, together with local e-commerce and social media platforms, took down online listings of vapes and related components.
Over the three-month period, authorities removed more than 2,000 listings.
This figure is more than five times that of the previous quarter (January to March 2025), during which authorities removed 408 vape-related listings.
Source: Health Sciences Authority
3,700 people caught and fined for vape possession & use
In the same period, HSA nabbed and fined more than 3,700 individuals for possessing and using vapes.
This represented a nearly 20% increase over the previous quarter, during which authorities caught 3,100 people.
MOH and HSA attributed this to the stepped-up enforcement.
12 people prosecuted for selling vapes
During this time, authorities prosecuted 12 people for selling vapes — eight males and four females aged between 17 and 46.
Their sentences ranged from probation to fines and imprisonment.
Source: Health Sciences Authority
Authorities also prosecuted 31 additional offenders in court for failing to pay their composition fines, an increase from the 21 in the previous quarter.
They comprised men and women aged between 19 and 64.
Offenders who failed to pay their fines promptly were penalised with higher fines and/or prison sentences.
3 tonnes of vapes seized in Bishan and Ubi
One of the offenders prosecuted for selling vapes and components was a 21-year-old man who allegedly did this in Bishan and Ubi.
Acting on public feedback, HSA officers caught him and raided these locations.
They seized almost three tonnes of e-vaporisers.
The man was charged in court on 14 July, with his case adjourned to 11 Sept.
29 cases related to ‘Kpods’ so far this year
As of 12 Aug, authorities have detected 29 cases of drug-laced vapes known as “Kpods” this year.
20 of them were related to illegal use, with the rest related to import and/or sale.
Five people have already been charged or are facing charges for the alleged import and/or sale of vapes containing etomidate.
Source: Health Sciences Authority
One of them was a 41-year-old man who allegedly made Kpods at home, intending to sell them. Authorities charged him on 17 July.
The other four accused are men aged between 19 and 55 years old.
Etomidate will be classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) from 1 Sept, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.
90,000 vapes and related products seized at S’pore’s checkpoints
At Singapore’s land, sea and air checkpoints, about 90,000 vapes and related products were seized between April and June.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
This was the result of HSA’s joint operations with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), as well as ICA’s intensified targeting and profiling efforts.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
These efforts also led to the detection of 19 large-scale smuggling cases.
Public reminded of vaping offences
MOH and HSA reminded the public that it is an offence to import, distribute, sell or offer for sale vapes and their components.
Offenders face a maximum fine of S$2,000.
Those caught vaping should also pay their fines before the due date of their notices or face harsher consequences if prosecuted in court.
Members of the public who have information on vape-related offences can contact HSA’s Tobacco Regulation Branch at 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during weekday office hours.
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Featured image adapted from Health Sciences Authority.
