Singapore Cracks Down on Drug-Laced Vapes with Harsher Penalties

Singapore Cracks Down on Drug-Laced Vapes with Harsher Penalties
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Singapore is escalating its fight against vaping with new, tougher penalties, including caning and longer prison sentences, starting September 1, BBC reported. The move is a direct response to a surge in the use of vapes laced with the anesthetic drug etomidate, known locally as “Kpods.”

According to the Ministry of Health, etomidate will be reclassified as a Class C controlled drug, allowing for stricter enforcement. The new laws are particularly harsh on suppliers, with importers facing up to 20 years in jail and 15 strokes of the cane. For sellers and distributors, the penalty is a minimum of two years’ jail and two strokes of the cane.

Foreigners caught with vapes—laced or otherwise—face fines and a potential ban from re-entering the country, while repeat offenders risk deportation and having their passes revoked. The government has also launched a public health campaign and intensified checks at border crossings to curb the illicit trade.