Singapore has escalated its war on vapes, rolling out harsher penalties, expanding enforcement powers and urging the public to report suspected users via a national hotline, as authorities seek to crush a black market increasingly linked to illicit drugs.
The crackdown follows a surge in drug-laced vapes containing the anaesthetic etomidate, which officials say pose a growing threat to public safety. Under the new regime, users can face jail, mandatory rehabilitation or heavy fines, while sellers risk long prison terms and caning – punishments rarely seen elsewhere for vaping-related offences.
Vaping has been banned in the city-state since 2018, but the emergence of illicit vapes containing etomidate has prompted authorities to shift from regulation to outright enforcement.
From public health worry to drug crackdown
The scale of enforcement is evident at Singapore’s Woodlands Checkpoint, the main land crossing with Malaysia, where customs officers inspect vehicles for hidden vapes. Officers knock on panels, search personal belongings and scan mobile phones, responding to smuggling methods that have become increasingly sophisticated.
K-pods, as the drug-laced vapes are known, gained notoriety after videos circulated online showing young people collapsing in public or behaving erratically. Last July, a random test of seized vapes found about one third contained etomidate, a discovery that shocked a country known for its zero tolerance of drugs.
“The real danger is what’s inside”
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has framed vaping as a drug threat rather than a lifestyle issue. “The vapes themselves are just delivery devices. The real danger is what’s inside,” he warned. “Right now, it’s etomidate. In future, it could be something worse, stronger, far more dangerous drugs.”
Since September, penalties have escalated sharply. Users caught with vapes can face jail, mandatory rehabilitation or fines of up to S$10,000 (€6,600). Sellers face up to 20 years in prison and as many as 15 strokes of the cane. Students can be suspended, expelled or caned, while foreigners face the same punishments and possible deportation.
Enforcement everywhere – and everyone watching
The crackdown extends beyond borders and courts. “Vape bins” have been installed across the island, allowing users to dispose of devices without penalty. Authorities have increased roving patrols and bag checks at bus and metro stations. A hotline now allows the public to report suspected vapers, generating more than 2,600 reports in its first nine weeks and underscoring the government’s reliance on public vigilance.
A sweeping public health campaign reinforces the message, with adverts referencing popular films and television shows to warn of vaping’s dangers. Officials say the effort is yielding results, with police figures showing drug-laced vapes now account for less than a tenth of seizures.
Critics say the ban goes too far
Some users argue the response is excessive. One vaper, using the pseudonym Michael, said it “wasn’t right” for the government to be “strong-arming” people into quitting.
“That’s a personal choice, I think, and to just blanket-ban [vapes], I think it’s sloppy, it’s lazy.. let the people choose for themselves,” he said.
Another vaper, Toby, said the crackdown was effective but unfair to adults who used regular vapes. “One bad apple spoils the whole batch,” he said, adding that he plans to switch back to cigarettes.
