Man caught with $870k worth of Kpods among 5 charged with alleged trafficking of vaporisers一名男子因涉嫌贩运电子烟被抓获，他身上携带价值87万美元的Kpods电子烟油。
Five men have been charged with allegedly trafficking etomidate vaporiser pods, also known as Kpods, into Singapore, with one man allegedly caught with more than 12,000 pods worth $870,000, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Friday (Sept 4). This is the largest seizure of Kpods thus far, the authority said.Lee Chiun Yong, 36, and Kalaiarasu Krishinan, 30, were charged...
Five men have been charged with allegedly trafficking etomidate vaporiser pods, also known as Kpods, into Singapore, with one man allegedly caught with more than 12,000 pods worth $870,000, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Friday (Sept 4).
This is the largest seizure of Kpods thus far, the authority said.
Lee Chiun Yong, 36, and Kalaiarasu Krishinan, 30, were charged on Aug 25 and Aug 27 respectively, while Jerome Wee Chuan Kai, 26, Tan Si Yuan, 37, and Tiong Hin Yang, 24, were charged on Aug 28.
Lee, Kalaiarasu and Tiong were linked to three separate cases, while Wee and Tan were linked to a case related to an enforcement operation in Geylang.
Lee was driving into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint on Aug 23 and was directed for checks by ICA officers, who found three black bags containing packets of vaporiser pods in his vehicle's rear boot.
HSA officers were alerted and a total of 12,415 vaporiser pods were seized and later confirmed to contain etomidate.
On Aug 25, Kalaiarasu drove into Singapore through Tuas Checkpoint and was directed for enhanced checks by officers from ICA and the police's K-9 Unit during a joint operation.
HSA officers found a total of 3,240 vaporiser pods in two plastic bags and the items were seized.
The pods were allegedly intended for supply and both Lee and Kalaiarasu were remanded for a week each to assist with further investigations.
Lee and Kalaiarasu had their cases heard again in court on Sept 1 and Sept 3 respectively.
Both cases have been adjourned to Oct 13.
Joint enforcement operation by police , CNB, HSA
The police, Central Narcotics Bureau and HSA conducted a joint enforcement operation in Geylang on Aug 27.
Wee and Tan were found with cough syrup and pills, along with 12 and 30 vaporiser pods respectively.
Tan subsequently led officers to a condominium unit where another 171 vaporisers and 185 vaporiser pods were found.
Both men were remanded for a week to assist with further investigations. The case was heard again in court on Sept 4 and has been adjourned to Oct 12.
Acting on a tip-off, HSA officers also conducted an enforcement operation on the same day at Tiong's residence in the Bedok Reservoir area.
Two vaporisers and 53 vaporiser pods were seized, with a majority of the pods believed to be intended for sale.
Tiong was remanded for a week to assist with further investigations.
His case was heard in court on Sept 4 and has been adjourned to Oct 13.
Investigations are ongoing.
Etomidate listed as specified psychoactive substance under TVCA
HSA said that it takes a serious view towards vaporiser and etomidate trafficking offences.
Under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993 , etomidate and its analogues are listed as specified psychoactive substances .
Importers may be jailed between three and 20 years and receive five to 15 strokes of the cane while suppliers may be jailed between two and 10 years and receive two to five strokes of the cane.
The authority added that it takes a serious stand against illegal activities involving health products such as unregistered cough syrup and medicines.
Those caught importing, manufacturing and/or supplying illegal health products may be sentenced to a jail term of up to two years and/or fined up to $50,000.
Need support around vaping or addiction?
To report vaping offences: Contact Health Sciences Authority’s Tobacco Regulation Branch at 6684-2036 / 6684-2037 (7am to 12am daily) or https://www.go.gov.sg/reportvape
To quit vaping: Contact Health Promotion Board’s I Quit programme at 1800-438-2000 (8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday) or https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/iquit/e-cig/
For more addiction or substance abuse support:
Institute of Mental Health's National Addictions Management Service: 6389-2200
WE CARE Community Services: 3165-8017 or 8391-3023 (WhatsApp)
Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association: 6732-1122
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Fei Yue Community Services: 6485-8749
esther.lam@asiaone.com
新加坡卫生科学局（HSA）周五（9月4日）表示，五名男子被控涉嫌向新加坡走私依托咪酯电子烟烟弹（又称Kpods），其中一名男子被抓获时携带超过12000个烟弹，价值870000新元。
当局表示，这是迄今为止查获的最大宗Kpods走私案。
Lee Chiun Yong（36岁）和Kalaiarasu Krishinan（30岁）分别于8月25日和8月27日被指控，而Jerome Wee Chuan Kai（26岁）、Tan Si Yuan（37岁）和Tiong Hin Yang（24岁）于8月28日被指控。
Lee、Kalaiarasu 和 Tiong 与三起不同的案件有关，而 Wee 和 Tan 则与芽笼的一次执法行动有关。
8月23日，李某驾车经兀兰关卡进入新加坡，被移民与关卡局官员指示进行检查。官员们在他的车后备箱里发现了三个黑色袋子，里面装着电子烟烟弹。
HSA官员接到通知后，共查获12415个电子烟烟弹，后经证实含有依托咪酯。
8 月 25 日，卡莱亚拉苏驾车经大士关卡进入新加坡，在一次联合行动中，移民与关卡局官员和警方警犬队的官员指示对其进行更严格的检查。
HSA官员在两个塑料袋中发现了共计3240个电子烟烟弹，这些物品已被没收。
据称这些舱体是用于毒品供应的，Lee 和 Kalaiarasu 都被还押一周以协助进一步调查。
Lee 和 Kalaiarasu 的案件分别于 9 月 1 日和 9 月 3 日再次开庭审理。
两起案件均延期至10月13日审理。
警方、中央肃毒局和卫生安全局联合开展执法行动。
8月27日，警方、中央肃毒局和卫生科学局在芽笼联合开展执法行动。
警方在魏和谭身上搜出了止咳糖浆和药片，以及分别12个和30个电子烟烟弹。
随后，谭带领警员前往一间公寓，在那里又发现了 171 个电子烟和 185 个电子烟烟弹。
两人均被还押一周以协助进一步调查。该案于9月4日再次开庭审理，并延期至10月12日。
根据线报，卫生科学局官员当天还在勿洛蓄水池一带的张某住所开展了执法行动。
警方缴获了两台电子烟和 53 个电子烟烟弹，其中大部分烟弹据信是打算出售的。
Tiong被还押一周以协助进一步调查。
他的案件于9月4日开庭审理，并延期至10月13日审理。
调查仍在进行中。
根据《毒物控制法》(TVCA)，依托咪酯被列为特定精神活性物质。
HSA表示，他们对电子烟和依托咪酯贩运犯罪持严肃态度。
根据 1993 年《烟草和雾化器管制法》，依托咪酯及其类似物被列为特定精神活性物质。
进口商可能被判处 3 至 20 年监禁，并处以 5 至 15 下鞭刑；供应商可能被判处 2 至 10 年监禁，并处以 2 至 5 下鞭刑。
该机构还表示，将严肃打击涉及未注册止咳糖浆和药品等保健产品的非法活动。
凡被抓获进口、制造和/或供应非法保健产品者，可被判处最高两年监禁和/或最高 5 万美元罚款。
需要有关电子烟或成瘾方面的帮助吗？
如需举报电子烟违法行为，请联系新加坡卫生科学局烟草管制处，电话：6684-2036 / 6684-2037（每日上午7点至凌晨12点），或访问网站：https://www.go.gov.sg/reportvape
如需戒除电子烟：请联系新加坡健康促进局的“戒烟计划”，电话：1800-438-2000（周一至周五，上午 8 点至下午 6 点），或访问 https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/iquit/e-cig/
如需更多成瘾或药物滥用方面的支持：
美国精神卫生研究所国家成瘾管理服务处：6389-2200
我们关爱社区服务：3165-8017 或 8391-3023（WhatsApp）
新加坡禁毒协会：6732-1122
泰华关道德慈善机构：thkmc.org.sg
飞跃社区服务中心：6485-8749
esther.lam@asiaone.com