Over 1,900 caught for vaping offences from Sept to Nov 2; 167 of them had vapes containing etomidate

SINGAPORE – More than 1,900 people were nabbed for offences linked to e-vaporisers from September to Nov 2, among whom more than 160 were found with vapes containing etomidate, a harmful drug.

Out of 1,929 people caught for vape-related offences, 167 of them were found to be etomidate abusers, said the Ministry of Health and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a joint statement on Nov 7.

So far, 108 of those caught for abusing etomidate have been placed on rehabilitation programmes at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and social service agencies (SSAs), the statement added.

Another 33 are awaiting the outcome of further investigations or interviews, and six are waiting to be placed on the programme.

The remaining 20 will not be placed on the programme because six of them are foreigners awaiting repatriation and the other 14 have been jailed for offences unrelated to e-vaporisers.

Of those placed on rehabilitation, 105 have been compliant with their rehabilitation programme, while three etomidate abusers failed to attend their first rehabilitation appointments.

Thirteen vape reoffenders have been placed on the rehabilitation programme with the Health Promotion Board (HPB). 

Among them, 11 have been compliant with the programme while two have failed to attend their first appointments.

Abusers who fail to report for interviews and rehabilitation can be prosecuted. 

So far, HSA has prosecuted three people for etomidate-related offences and one person for vape offences, as they had failed to attend or complete their rehabilitation appointments. 

Among them is 20-year-old Tan Xin Yi who was charged on Nov 6 with etomidate-related offences. Her case has been adjourned to Dec 3.

The maximum penalty for people with etomidate-related offences who do not attend or complete their rehabilitation is a jail term of up to two years and a fine of up to $10,000.

The maximum penalty for people with vape-related offences is a fine of up to $2,000.

Possessing, using or buying vapes carries a maximum fine of $2,000.

Alleged trafficking of etomidate vape pods

The authorities added that HSA has since charged three more people, aged 18 to 31, with the alleged trafficking of etomidate vape pods. This brings the total number of individuals charged in the past nine weeks under the Misuse of Drugs Act to eight.

Separately, 10 cases of smuggling of regular e-vaporisers were detected at the airport, checkpoints or cruise centres in the past nine weeks.

Among them, two people received stern warnings, five were fined and two were charged. The remaining case is under investigation.

More than 26,000 vapes and related components were seized in total.

Hotline and online reporting

The authorities added that there were over 2,600 cases of vape activities reported through HSA’s online reporting form and hotlines over the past nine weeks.

HSA was able to conduct targeted enforcement actions based on these public reports.

Based on the leads provided, HSA and the National Environment Agency (NEA) carried out joint enforcement operations at hot spot areas from Oct 8 to 10, including Khatib, Yishun and Punggol.

Five people, aged between 15 and 37, were caught and fined on the spot. A total of six vapes and related components were seized, including one vape which later tested positive for etomidate.

Based on online listings and social media posts reported by the public, HSA removed more than 570 online vape-related listings, offending websites and Telegram groups over the past nine weeks.

It has taken actions against two people who posted content of themselves vaping or possessing vapes on social media.

Rehabilitation process and support to quit

As for the QuitVape programme at IMH and the four participating SSAs, 50 people have voluntarily enrolled in it over the last nine weeks.

About 230 people have signed up for HPB’s I Quit programme.

Those who voluntarily seek help will not be penalised even after Sept 1.

Declining trend of vape pods found to contain etomidate

HSA added that it has been conducting random surveillance testing of vapes seized since July.

The authority said it observed a declining trend of vape pods found to contain etomidate in seized samples from the offenders.

Out of a sample size of 100 vape pods, one-third were found to contain etomidate in July .

This proportion dropped to 12 per cent in August, following the announcement of the inclusion of etomidate under the Misuse of Drugs Act in July.

The percentage of vape pods containing etomidate has since fallen further to 9 per cent in September.