August 24, 2025 | 10:28 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in Singapore has confiscated over 850 vaping devices and related components during a five-day intensive inspection period. According to CNA, the crackdown was conducted by ICA officers from Monday, August 18, 2025, to Friday, August 22, 2025.
Singapore has a strict ban on vaping. To enforce this, the ICA has stepped up inspections to combat the smuggling of vapes into the country by air, land, or sea.
As part of these enhanced measures, the agency has placed brightly colored red vape disposal bins at checkpoints to make them more visible to tourists. Additional officers were also deployed for further inspections, though the exact number was not disclosed.
These increased security efforts align with the government’s commitment to crack down on vaping. In his National Day speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that Singapore would strengthen law enforcement and treat vaping as a serious drug issue.
Singapore Threatens Dealers with Prison Sentences
Individuals caught buying, using, or possessing vapes can be referred to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and face fines of up to S$2,000 (around Rp36 million). Importing, distributing, or selling vapes and their components is also illegal.
Vaping has become increasingly popular among Singapore's youth, prompting the government to take a harder stance. "So far we’ve treated vaping like tobacco – at most we impose a fine. But that’s no longer enough," said Prime Minister Wong during his National Day speech at the Institute of Technical Education in Ang Mo Kio on Sunday, August 17, 2025.
According to CNA, Wong also announced that authorities would impose much heavier penalties, including imprisonment, not just for users but especially for sellers, particularly those who distribute vapes containing harmful substances.
Wong emphasized that many vapes contain addictive and dangerous substances, such as etomidate, a fast-acting anesthetic that can be dangerous when used outside a medical setting. Singapore has also specifically warned about vapes containing etomidate, which are known as Kpods.
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