More than 17,900 people caught with vapes, 15 identified after posting images of themselves vaping
More than 17,900 people were caught for the possession and use of e-vaporisers from January 2024 to March 2025, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a press release on May 16.
Fifteen people were identified and fined for posting photographs or videos of vapes on their social media accounts.
HSA seized more than $41 million worth of vaping components and conducted 50 operations against large-scale syndicates.
The agency prosecuted 60 people aged 17 to 43 for selling e-vaporisers, including two key figures in a syndicate case involving over $5 million worth of vapes.
Ivan Sin Poh Meng was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and a fine of $16,000 while and Toh Wee Leong was jailled 10 months and fined $14,000. These were the highest sentences to date for the smuggling of e-vaporisers.
A key figure of another syndicate linked to a case of more than $6.5 million worth of vapes was also nabbed in October 2024 and investigations are ongoing.
In addition, 101 individuals were caught with e-vaporisers at checkpoints in joint operations between HSA and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
ICA also caught 91 vape smugglers and referred them to HSA.
HSA is also collaborating more closely with local e-commerce and social media platforms to take down e-vaporiser listings. More than 6,800 listings were removed from January 2024 to March 2025. This was more than double the 3,100 listings removed in 2023.
The possession, use or purchase of e-vaporisers carries a maximum fine of $2,000.
It is an offence to import, distribute, sell or offer for sale e-vaporisers and their components. Any person convicted is liable to a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment of up to six months or both for the first offence; and a fine of up to $20,000, imprisonment of up to 12 months or both for each subsequent offence.
All prohibited tobacco items will be seized and confiscated.
The Health Promotion Board (HPB) provides cessation support for students who are caught vaping through QuitLine, a tele-counselling service, and onsite counselling by student health advisors at selected schools. Nearly 1,800 youths received smoking and vaping cessation counselling from January 2024 to March 2025.
To enhance cessation support, HPB will be embarking on a year-long virtual cessation counselling pilot with MOE for all secondary schools. The pilot is planned to commence from July onwards.
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