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The Police have arrested three men, aged between 22 to 38, and a 21-year-old woman for their suspected involvement in a plan to break into a warehouse unit in Woodlands and remove e-vaporisers and related paraphernalia seized by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

On 23 March 2024, HSA detained a 35-year-old man after he was found loitering near the warehouse unit containing the seized items and called for Police assistance. The man was subsequently arrested by the Police for drug-related offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973. Investigations revealed that the man was allegedly involved in the discussion of a plan to remove the items seized by HSA from the warehouse unit and had also obtained various equipment, including harnesses and ropes, to carry out the plan. The equipment were seized as case exhibits.

On 26 March 2024, HSA alerted the Police again when they spotted two men loitering suspiciously near the warehouse unit. Officers from Woodlands Police Division and HSA located and detained both men, aged 22 and 38. It was established that the 38-year-old man was allegedly offered a sum of money to remove the seized items from the warehouse unit and recruited the 22-year-old man for that purpose. Both men had gone to the site to survey the unit and the woman was found in their company. All three persons were arrested by the Police.

The three men will be charged in court on 28 March 2024 with the offence of abetment of housebreaking under Section 451 read with Section 116(1) of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to ten years and a fine. Police investigations against the woman are ongoing.

The Police have zero tolerance towards such criminal acts. Offenders will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law.

HSA would like to remind the public that it is an offence[1] 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. All prohibited tobacco items will also be seized and confiscated.

Members of the public who have information on the illegal import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of e-vaporisers can contact HSA’s Tobacco Regulation Branch at 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during office hours (9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday).

Photo of the various equipment seized ▼

[1] This offence falls under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act.