Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re likely aware that vaping is strictly prohibited in Singapore.
Individuals caught with a vape device could be subjected to fines of up to $2,000.
However, as the saying goes, people will always choose to break the rules. Just look around you, and you’re bound to have heard or seen your peers or family members who possess these devices.
According to Channel NewsAsia, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) caught 4,916 individuals for vaping in 2022, an almost fourfold increase compared to the 1,266 people caught in 2020.
However, the numbers seem to be rising, with more individuals being intercepted with e-vaporisers at Changi Airport.
ICA & HSA Caught 177 People Bringing in Vapes into S’pore at Changi Airport
According to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), a joint operation between the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and ICA at Changi Airport in late December detected 177 individuals carrying e-vaporisers.
Out of these 177 individuals, 61 were fined.
According to a joint statement by ICA, HSA, and the Ministry of Health (MOH), the 116 individuals who declared and disposed of their e-vaporisers avoided penalties.
The operations were conducted on four separate days—20, 23, 27, and 30 December 2023—to discourage attempts to smuggle e-vaporisers or vapes into Singapore via the airport during the peak travel season.
Throughout the operation, HSA and ICA officers closely monitored passengers arriving at all four terminals of Changi Airport.
Informative pull-up banners and digital screens highlighting the prohibition of e-vaporisers in Singapore were strategically placed in high-traffic areas.
Passengers were reminded to use the Red Channel after collecting their baggage to declare any vapes to ICA officers.
Those with baggage anomalies detected during scanning were subjected to additional inspections. Vapes found during these checks were confiscated, and fines were immediately issued to passengers who failed to declare them.
These border operations are part of the authorities’ ongoing efforts to prevent the proliferation of vaping in Singapore.
Additionally, the joint statement mentioned that in a separate operation at Tuas Checkpoint on 21 December 2023, ICA officers discovered 25 e-vaporisers and related components under the seats of a Singapore-registered car.
According to the statement, 1,656 e-vaporiser-related cases were detected in December.
In the coming months, HSA and ICA will continue to conduct operations at land and sea checkpoints to combat illegal vaping.
So, if you’re thinking about smuggling vapes into Singapore, think again.
Penalties for Possessing Vapes in Singapore
In the meantime, educational institutions, including schools and higher education establishments, are ramping up their efforts to detect and enforce regulations against vaping.
Additional measures involve enhancing detection capabilities and clamping down on the online sale and promotion of e-vaporisers.
Individuals found in possession, use, or purchase of e-vaporisers may face fines of up to $2,000.
For first-time offenders involved in importing, distributing, selling, or offering to sell e-vaporisers and their components, penalties can include fines of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.
Subsequent violations may result in fines of up to $20,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or a combination of both.
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