SINGAPORE – The authorities have seized more than 85,000 electronic vaporisers and related components from a warehouse unit in Mandai, the largest haul of such products to date.
Five suspected runners, aged between 20 and 33, were detained last Wednesday at the warehouse and are assisting the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in investigations.
“This successful operation, which spanned more than 72 hours, disrupted the operations of an illegal e-vaporiser supply chain,” said the police and HSA in a joint statement on Monday.
This is the largest seizure of e-vaporiser, or vape, products by HSA, surpassing a raid in 2021 in which more than $2.2 million worth of vapes and related components were seized, according to the statement. The authorities are currently assessing the value of the items seized in the most recent raid.
The warehouse, which was used to store vape products for collection by runners, was uncovered after the police detained six people suspected of being involved in the illegal trade of vapes in Sembawang the day before.
Last Tuesday, the police received a call for assistance at the multi-storey carpark at Block 592 Montreal Link, and found a driver of a van allegedly distributing parcels containing vapes to five people.
The five people would purportedly deliver the vape products to buyers.
Two men – the driver, 27, and another man, 26 – were arrested for “rash or negligent conduct with respect to any machinery” in their possession, the statement said.
The driver was also arrested for using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty.
Four other men from the carpark, aged 22 to 27, are also assisting in investigations.
HSA said the import, distribution, sale and offer for sale of harmful or imitation tobacco products are illegal.
These include shisha tobacco, smokeless tobacco and chewing tobacco such as gutkha, khaini and zarda, as well as e-vaporisers and their accessories, it said.
An offender can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both, for the first offence. He can be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both, for subsequent offences.
