Vaporizer suppression achieves almost 4,000; a quarter are students, Latest Singapore News

Nearly 4,000 people in Singapore were caught and fined for possessing or using electronic vaporizers over a three-month period earlier this year, health authorities said on Oct. 23.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said the figure of 3,840 recorded between July 1 and September 30 was a 52% increase on the previous quarter.

There were 743 cases of students caught vaping by schools and institutes of higher learning (IHL), 591 cases detected during community enforcement patrols, 44 cases detected through enforcement operations in the vicinity of IHL and 16 cases detected at checkpoints.

In their statement, MOH and HSA said they are working with the Health Promotion Board and the Ministry of Education to increase efforts to address the vaping problem. The agencies are also working with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the National Environment Agency and the National Parks Board to carry out enforcement operations on a number of fronts, including checkpoints , online platforms and in the community, schools and IHL.

HSA said it has been actively monitoring online content to identify those vaping in public and using or posing with vapers in photos or videos.

In July and August, it fined five offenders – four men and one woman, aged between 13 and 34 – who posted content of themselves with vapers on their Instagram and TikTok accounts.

The posts have since been removed, authorities said.

A 49-year-old man’s Tampines home was raided in September after a video of him vaping in an MRT cab went viral on social media.

HSA found an electronic vaporizer and other drug paraphernalia at his home. In addition, he was also wanted by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and is currently assisting HSA and CNB in ​​investigations.

Online trading platforms have not escaped scrutiny either.

More than 1,900 listings of vaporizers and their components have been removed from local e-commerce and social media platforms, more than triple the number compared to the same period in 2023.

A total of 253 people were caught through targeted operations at major and high-profile events.

September’s Formula 1 race weekend saw HSA fine around 200 people, while more than 50 who attended an outdoor music event in Sentosa in August were similarly fined way

The bid to eliminate vaping also extended to borders, with HSA and ICA carrying out several joint operations at air, land and sea checkpoints. More than 4,000 travelers were screened and 16 were caught using vapers.

A 32-year-old Malaysian man driving a Malaysian-registered truck was also caught trying to smuggle vapors at Tuas Checkpoint on 17 July. He was found to have more than 20,000 vaporizers and components with a street value of more than $300,000 in his possession. .

He was arrested and handed over to HSA for further investigation. While under investigation, he tried to flee Singapore but was captured by the ICA two days later.

He was later sentenced to 28 weeks in prison on 28 August.

The crackdown on vape suppliers in recent months has also included in-person distribution rings.

On July 7, HSA officers conducted an operation in Paya Lebar involving foreign domestic workers. They intercepted 10 people, eight of whom were buyers, as well as two sellers, before any transactions took place.

Eight vapors and various components were also seized, as well as illegal drugs intended for sale.

In a separate incident on August 21, HSA seized more than 2,000 vapors and components with a street value of more than $39,000 in Tampines. Eight people between the ages of 26 and 35 were caught distributing the vapors to their vehicles in an outdoor parking lot.

All offenders in both incidents are currently assisting with investigations.

Possession, use or purchase of vaporizers carries a maximum fine of $2,000. People caught importing, distributing, selling or offering vapor and its components for sale can be fined up to $10,000 or jailed for up to six months, or both, for a first offense.

Subsequent offenses can result in a fine of up to $20,000, up to one year in jail, or both. All prohibited tobacco items will be confiscated and confiscated.

There were 21 people aged between 14 and 48 who were convicted between July 1 and September 30 for selling vapes and related components in Singapore.

Total fines totaled more than $150,000, with one fined $39,000 and another jailed for 15 months and $10,000.

Members of the public with information regarding the illegal possession, use, purchase, importation, distribution, sale or offer for sale of vapes can contact the Tobacco Regulation Branch from the HSA at 6684 2036 or 6684 2037.