Hidden vapes and where to find them: Inside ICA’s clampdown at land checkpoints
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- ICA officers demonstrated enhanced checks at Woodlands Checkpoint due to a 2.3% rise in contraband smuggling attempts, with 44,000 cases in 2024.
- Smugglers use sophisticated methods to hide vapes in vehicles including modified compartments.
- ICA uses data analytics to identify suspicious vehicles, working with other law enforcement agencies to deter smuggling. HSA seized $41 million worth of vapes from Jan 2024-Mar 2025.
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SINGAPORE – Vape smugglers driving through Singapore’s land checkpoints have concealed e-vaporisers in a car’s dashboard, undercarriage, wheel wells and even in an air filter box.
These vehicles are specially modified so they can hide larger quantities of vapes, which have been banned in Singapore since 2018.
The modus operandi was disclosed to The Straits Times by officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Aug 4 when they gave ST a demonstration of an enhanced inspection at Woodlands Checkpoint.
Using a demo car, ICA officers probed every panel and crevice while the search and examination group leader Dayangku Suhaila Abdul Aziz explained what was being examined.
One officer with a torchlight went under the steering wheel to check if anything was hidden behind the steering column.
Another officer tapped the car’s air filter box to determine if it was hollow.
The stepped up enforcement comes in the wake of a 2.3 per cent increase in foiled contraband smuggling attempts, as reported in the ICA Annual Statistics 2024.
In 2023, there were 43,000 contraband cases detected as compared to 44,000 in 2024. These cases included contraband cigarettes and vapes.
Sergeant Muhammad Shahrul Alqaff Mohammad Juri conducting a vehicle check at Woodlands Checkpoint on Aug 4. Enforcement measures have been stepped up in the wake of an increase in foiled contraband smuggling attempts.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
In an April 4 post on Facebook, ICA said it detected a total of 308 cases involving vapes at Singapore’s air, land and sea checkpoints in 2024.
Vehicles that require closer inspections are usually those that have nervous-looking drivers or passengers, or vehicles that appear to be heavily loaded despite having only a driver.
Checkpoint Inspector 2 Dayangku, 32, said: “For smaller quantities, people (smugglers) tend to be more anxious, and they would be hiding the stuff (vapes) in the car, for example, under the floor mats.
“For syndicates, the way of concealment will be more sophisticated... the cars will be modified to conceal the contraband.”
In recent cases, syndicates have hidden vapes in a car’s spare tyre well, a prime mover’s cabin and disguised boxes of vapes with a consignment of foodstuff in a delivery van.
From January 2024 to March 2025, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) seized $41 million worth of vapes
Incoming lorries and buses must go through the Radiographic Scanning Portal. If anomalies are detected by ICA’s image analysts, its officers will perform enhanced checks.
Vehicles going through the Radiographic Scanning Portal at Woodlands Checkpoint on Aug 4.
ST PHOTOS: LIM YAOHUI
Smaller vehicles such as cars and motorcycles can also be scanned using a mobile X-ray machine, said Checkpoint Inspector Dayangku.
On July 29, 2,400 units of vapes and components
More than 5,900 units of e-vaporisers were found in a car entering Singapore
In a Facebook post on Aug 5, the ICA said it foiled the smuggling attempt made via a Malaysia-registered car.
Besides the vapes, enhanced checks on the car also uncovered related components and 150 cartons of heatsticks (heat-not-burn tobacco) hidden in various compartments such as under passenger seats, side panels in the boot and the car bonnet.
Sergeant 2 Daniyal Na’im Mohamed Azaman (left) conducting a vehicle search at the Arrival Cargo Zone at Woodlands Checkpoint on Aug 4.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
On July 8, ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint scanned a bus and found over 3,800 e-vaporisers and components concealed in the luggage compartment.
On June 27, ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint thwarted two attempts to smuggle vape products into Singapore in two Malaysia-registered cars.
They found over 3,600 e-vaporiser products hidden in the vehicles’ compartments.
The cases have been referred to the HSA.
Besides the officers’ intuition, tip-offs or collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, and information from ICA’s Integrated Targeting Centre also help in countering smuggling attempts.
Deputy Superintendent Ivan Koo Mun Hon, assistant commander of Woodlands Checkpoint, said ICA adopts a multi-pronged approach to tackle the smuggling of contraband like vapes.
Deputy Superintendent Ivan Koo Mun Hon told media that ICA adopts a multi-pronged approach in tackling smuggling.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Checkpoint Inspector Dayangku said: “I am proud of my team... for successfully detecting and stopping these smugglers at the checkpoint.
“As ICA officers, it is our duty to prevent harmful contraband like e-vaporisers from entering and circulating in Singapore.”
Members of the public can report vaping offences to the Tobacco Regulation Branch by calling 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 from 9am to 9pm daily, or online at www.go.gov.sg/reportvape
Under current laws, possessing, using or buying vapes carries a maximum fine of $2,000.
Anyone who distributes, imports or sells vapes and their components can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $10,000.
Those found in possession of or using pods containing etomidate
If you need help to quit vaping, you can join the Health Promotion Board’s I Quit programme by calling the QuitLine on 1800-438-2000.
