Vape products, illegal cigarettes found in Singapore rental car at Woodlands Checkpoint

SINGAPORE – E-vaporiser products and duty-unpaid cigarettes were discovered in the boot of a rental car at Woodlands Checkpoint in August.

In a Facebook post on Sept 4, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the illegal cigarettes were discovered by auxiliary police officers during routine checks on Aug 29.

The Singapore-registered rental car was then directed to undergo enhanced screening, during which ICA officers uncovered 34 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and 18 e-vaporisers and related components.

The case was referred to the Singapore Customs and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for further investigation.

Singapore is taking a whole-of-government approach to tackle vaping and is treating it as a drug issue, with

stiffer penalties to be imposed

.

From January 2024 to March 2025, HSA seized $41 million worth of vapes – nearly fivefold the reported value seized from 2019 to end-2023, according to numbers compiled by The Straits Times.

Between April and June, 19 large-scale vape smuggling cases were detected at Singapore’s air, land and sea checkpoints, leading to 

around 90,000 vapes and related products being seized

.

From Sept 1, anybody caught possessing, using or buying vapes will face higher penalties. Recalcitrant users may be required to undergo rehabilitation. Vape abusers will face increased fines of $500 for those under 18 and $700 for adults, up from $300 and $500, respectively.

Abusers of vapes laced with synthetic drugs like etomidate or ketamine, also known as Kpods, can be subject to rehabilitation, mandatory supervision and detention.

Sellers of Kpods will face higher penalties under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

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

If you have a story to share about vapes, e-mail us at 

stnewsdesk@sph.com.sg