Singapore Implements Harsh Penalties in Drug Vape Crackdown

Thu Dec 18 2025 00:28:42 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Tougher penalties including caning and hefty fines are being introduced in Singapore in response to an increase in drug-laced vaping. The crackdown aims to control the alarming rise in the use of etomidate-infused e-cigarettes, known as Kpods.

Singaporean authorities are escalating their fight against drug-laced vapes, introducing stricter fines, caning, and deportation for foreigners caught using or supplying vapes containing etomidate. This measure follows the rising popularity of these devices among youths, amid increased public concern.

Singapore Implements Harsh Penalties in Drug Vape Crackdown

Singaporean authorities have announced tougher penalties for vaping as they try to crack down on the increasing use of drug-laced vapes in the country. These include stiffer fines, longer jail terms, and even caning for offenders, while foreigners may face deportation.

Despite being one of the first places to ban vaping in 2018, Singapore has seen a persistent rise in the use of vapes laced with etomidate, an anaesthetic drug, leading to widespread alarm.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that tougher laws were necessary as vapes have become a gateway for serious substance abuse. A recent study showed that a third of seized vapes contained etomidate.

The new regulations, which will come into effect on September 1, stipulate fines starting from S$500 (£288; $390) for general offenders and harsher penalties for those caught with drug-infused vapes. Suppliers may face up to 20 years in jail and 15 strokes of the cane.

Moreover, foreigners caught vaping risk losing their employment permits and being banned from re-entering the country, while signs highlighting the ban will be placed across Changi Airport. These measures aim to complement an aggressive public health campaign against vaping.

The regulations are intended as an interim measure for six months while the government formulates a more comprehensive response. The comprehensive campaign includes advertisements urging the public to refrain from vaping and educational initiatives in schools about the dangers of drug use.

With significant supplies coming from neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, Singapore has increased checks at land borders to further curb the influx of vapes. This crackdown aligns with growing global concerns about vaping among youth, with several countries implementing similar bans on disposable vapes.