13 suspected vape syndicate members charged with being members of organised criminal group
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Another alleged member of the syndicate is expected to be handed a similar charge on Oct 31.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
SINGAPORE – Thirteen individuals who were part of a syndicate that supplied vapes to people in Singapore were charged on Oct 30 with being members of an organised criminal group.
Another alleged member of the syndicate is expected to be handed a similar charge on Oct 31.
The police said all 14 suspected syndicate members were previously charged in court over their alleged roles in possessing vapes, or conspiring to do so, for the purposes of selling.
All of them have been remanded to facilitate police investigations.
The 13 people who were handed one charge each under the Organised Crime Act on Oct 30 are Teo Jin Rui, 28; Adrian Chia Hong Qing, 32; Ng Tai Lun, 27; Tiffany Lim Hui Ping, 29; Kenneth Tan Hong Chang, 30; Cheong Tian Lin, 25; Tan Boon Hao, 30; Roy Tan Jun Jie, 33; Tan Yi Tan, 35; Nigel Khing Yao Zhi, 27; Feelix Teo Wang Chye, 29; Wong Ee Wei, 28; and Iu Bing Yuan, 37.
Teo Jin Rui, Tiffany Lim and Kenneth Tan were also charged with allegedly allowing premises occupied by them to support the syndicate’s vape distribution operations.
The 14th alleged member of the vape syndicate, Tey Ler Wei, 29, had previously been charged on Oct 25 with engaging in a conspiracy with four others to possess more than 12,300 vapes for the purposes of selling them.
The police said on Oct 29 that the vape syndicate is suspected to have orchestrated the importation and distribution of vapes from Malaysia into Singapore, supplying vapes to locals here.
If convicted of being members of an organised criminal group, an offender can be fined up to $100,000, jailed for up to five years, or both.
Those found guilty of importing, distributing or selling vapes can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months or both, for the first offence.
An offender may be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to a year, or both, on subsequent convictions.
Stiffer penalties were imposed
These include vape abusers having to face increased fines of $500 for those under 18 and $700 for adults, up from $300 and $500 previously.
The public can report vaping offences to the Tobacco Regulation Branch on 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 from 9am to 9pm daily, or online at www.go.gov.sg/reportvape
