HSA seizes $50,000 worth of vaporisers from man who allegedly sold $30,000 worth of banned products

Prohibited vaporisers, worth about $50,000 in total, have been seized in a raid in the Serangoon North area on Nov 25, 2016. PHOTO: HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
Prohibited vaporisers, worth about $50,000 in total, have been seized in a raid in the Serangoon North area on Nov 25, 2016. PHOTO: HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY

SINGAPORE - Prohibited vaporisers, worth about $50,000 in total, were seized in a Health Sciences Authority (HSA) raid in the Serangoon North area last Friday (Nov 25), the agency said in a press release.

This was HSA's largest raid to date in terms of seizure value and the scale of the peddler's business.

A 30-year-old man, who had stored the vaporisers at his home and a nearby storage site, is assisting with investigations, the agency said on Wednesday (Nov 30).

The man came to the attention of the authorities through his online activity.

HSA said that it has obtained transaction records that connect him to the sale of $30,000 worth of vaporisers and vaporiser accessories on seven online platforms.

The raid is part of ongoing efforts by HSA to deter the illegal peddling of vaporisers in Singapore.

Thirteen people have been prosecuted by HSA for the sale of vaporiser products since 2011, and the stiffest penalty meted out so far was $64,500.

The import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of anything that is designed to resemble a tobacco product is illegal, HSA said.

This includes vaporisers such as e-cigarettes, e-pipes, e-cigars and similar products.

Those found guilty of importing, distributing, selling or offering to sell vaporisers can be fined up to $10,000 and jailed six months for the first offence, with the punishment twice as stiff for subsequent offences.

Members of the public who have information on the illegal importation, distribution or sales of vaporisers can call its Tobacco Regulation Branch at 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 during office hours or e-mail hsa_trb@hsa.gov.sg.

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