Nearly 18,000 people caught for possession and use of vapes over 15 months: HSA, MOH

SINGAPORE – Close to 18,000 people were caught between January 2024 and March 2025 for the possession and use of e-vaporisers after the authorities stepped up enforcement efforts.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and Ministry of Health said in a joint statement on May 16 that e-vaporisers and related components worth more than $41 million were seized in the course of the 15 months.

HSA also led 50 successful operations against large-scale syndicates that dealt in such products. It prosecuted 27 offenders – 20 men and seven women aged between 20 and 46 – for failing to pay their composition fines, and took another 60 people to court for selling e-vaporisers.

Those who failed to pay on time for their vaping offences faced harsher penalties, such as higher fines or longer jail sentences, said the authorities.

The group of 60 includes two people linked to an e-vaporiser syndicate case that involved more than $5 million worth of the devices.

Ivan Sin was fined $16,000 and given 10 months’ jail, while Toh Wee Leong was fined $14,000 and given the same jail term. These are the harshest sentences given to offenders for smuggling e-vaporisers so far, said the authorities.

A key figure of another syndicate linked to a case that involved more than $6.5 million worth of e-vaporisers was nabbed in October 2024, and investigations are ongoing.

During the 15-month period, 101 people were caught with e-vaporisers during checks involving 20,800 travellers at air, land and sea checkpoints by HSA and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officers.

HSA is also working more closely with local e-commerce and social media platforms to take down online listings offering e-vaporisers.

More than 6,800 online listings of vapes and related components were removed during the period, more than double the 3,100 listings removed in 2023, said the authorities.

Another 15 people were identified and fined for posting photos or videos of e-vaporisers on social media accounts.

On the education front, schools and institutes of higher learning (IHLs) also stepped up efforts to reinforce the anti-vaping message and importance of maintaining a nicotine-free lifestyle, the statement said.

It said: “From January 2024 to March 2025, nearly 118,500 students from schools and IHLs were engaged through educational skits, peer-led initiatives and outreach activities aimed at raising awareness about the harms of vaping.

“About 2,600 students were referred to HSA by schools and IHLs for vaping.”

For students caught vaping, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) offers cessation support via tele-counselling service QuitLine, and on-site counselling by student health advisers in some schools.

Nearly 1,800 youth received counselling over the course of the 15 months.

HPB and the Ministry of Education will soon start a year-long virtual cessation counselling pilot for all secondary schools, slated to kick off in July, the statement said.

Those found guilty of possessing, using or buying e-vaporisers can be fined up to $2,000. Those who import, distribute, sell or offer e-vaporisers and related components for sale can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both, for the first offence.

Those who have been caught vaping are reminded to pay their fines promptly, said HSA, adding that those who fail to pay before the due date will face harsher consequences if they are prosecuted in court.