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On 17 September 2025, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at Pasir Panjang Scanning Station detected more than 9,200 e-vaporiser pods, in an inbound cargo container that was targeted for enhanced checks. The e-vaporiser pods were concealed in a consignment declared as “Power Bank”. The case was referred to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for further investigations.

A joint operation by HSA and the Criminal Investigation Department of the Singapore Police Force on 18 September 2025 swiftly established the identity of a 25-year-old Singaporean man involved with the consignment. He was subsequently arrested for his suspected involvement in the importation of the e-vaporiser pods under Section 16(2) of the Tobacco (Control of Advertisement and Sale) Act 1993. In addition to the foiled attempt to smuggle e-vaporiser pods into Singapore, the man was found to be in possession of another 85 e-vaporisers and its related components. The total estimated street value of the seized e-vaporisers and its related components are more than $51,000.

Investigations are ongoing.

Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, it is an offence to import, distribute, sell or offer for sale e-vaporisers and their components. Any person convicted of an offence is liable to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to six months or both for the first offence, and a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months or both for the second or subsequent offence.

Under the enhanced enforcement framework that came into force on 1 September 2025, individuals found possessing, using, or purchasing e-vaporisers now face higher penalties and recalcitrant users will be required to undergo rehabilitation. Those who do not complete the rehabilitation programme will be prosecuted. Offenders caught using e-vaporisers for the third time and more will be prosecuted in court under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act 1993 and be liable for a fine of up to $2,000.

Annex A

Photographs of the Seized Products from Shipping Container

Photographs of Operation