Singapore has announced a major crackdown on illegal vapes, warning that both residents and tourists could face heavy fines, jail time and even caning if caught.
All vaping has been banned in Singapore since 2018, with fines of at least S$500 (£288) for anyone caught using even regular vapes.
But the city-state is now taking a much tougher line after a surge in devices laced with etomidate, an anaesthetic known locally as “space oil” and more widely as Kpods.
Officials say the drug produces dissociative effects similar to ketamine, and can cause “serious harm… including adverse effects on the brain and even death.”
20-year prison terms and caning
From September 1, those caught importing or supplying etomidate vapes face up to 20 years in prison and 15 strokes of the cane – a punishment rarely applied in other parts of the world.
Repeat users of regular vapes may also be ordered into a compulsory rehabilitation programme, with failure to complete the programme resulting in prosecution.
Critics warn that such punishment-heavy policies risk preventing people from giving up smoking, which is still legal in Singapore.
Harm reduction advocates argue that with regional demand for vapes still growing despite bans, the country’s zero-tolerance approach may end up pushing use further underground and making the risks even greater.
Authorities say the latest crackdown is needed as after one sweep in July, one in three confiscated vapes contained etomidate. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime has also flagged the drug’s presence in vaping products across the region, aincluding Indonesia and Thailand.
Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the country needed sharper laws because “vapes have become a gateway for very serious substance abuse” and are “delivery devices for drugs.”
The government has temporarily reclassified etomidate as a Class C controlled drug, while it drafts permanent legislation to clamp down on substances delivered through vape cartridges.
Locals and foreigners to face same punishment
The crackdown is aimed not only at Singaporeans but also at foreigners. Workers could see their employment permits revoked, while tourists arriving at Changi Airport will be greeted with disposal bins and signs warning of the ban.
The moves play into Singapore’s long-standing reputation for harsh drug laws, which include the death penalty for trafficking and up to 10 years’ jail for cannabis possession. Social media videos showing young people acting erratically after vaping Kpods have heightened public alarm.
