A 41-year-old Singaporean man has been charged with manufacturing drug-laced vapes at home. Mohammed Akil Abdul Rahim faces multiple charges in what authorities say is the first case of its kind in Singapore.
The charges stem from discoveries made on 11 Dec 2024 at a Housing and Development Board flat at Block 269B Yishun Street 22. Akil appeared in court on 17 Jul 2025 via video-link and expressed his intention to plead guilty to all charges.
Home-Based Kpod Manufacturing Operation Uncovered in Yishun
Akil was found with an extensive collection of vaping equipment and components. The items seized included 569 empty pod casings, 534 pod components, 1,485 pod covers and 100 loose e-vaporiser pods.
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) confirmed this marks the first case involving home manufacturing of Kpods in Singapore. Akil received five charges under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act on 17 Jul 2025.
A HSA prosecutor indicated they were ready with a plea offer for Akil during the court proceedings. The defendant said he understood the charges and wanted to plead guilty to all of them.
He declined legal representation, stating he did not want to waste the court’s time.
Etomidate-Laced Vapes Pose Serious Health Risks
Akil faces additional charges under the Poisons Act for possessing and selling etomidate. This classified poison has been increasingly detected in vapes across Singapore.
Just after midnight on 11 Dec 2024, Akil allegedly sold 100 vape pods outside his HDB flat. These pods contained 150ml of liquid that was later analysed and found to contain etomidate.
Around 5:30am that same day, authorities allegedly found Akil with 26.4g of white powder containing etomidate. As of 30 Jun 2024, HSA has detected 28 cases involving etomidate this year.
Etomidate is a fast-acting anaesthetic used in medical procedures. It is meant to be injected into veins under clinical supervision and is never intended to be inhaled. The substance enters the lungs directly when vaped and may trigger spasms, breathing difficulties, seizures and psychosis.
The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs issued a joint statement on 12 Jul 2025 highlighting vaping as a serious issue. They noted that etomidate may cause adverse effects including seizures and psychosis.
The ministries are looking at tightening laws around vaping after increased detection of vapes containing etomidate and other controlled drugs.
The Straits Times launched its anti-vaping campaign, Vaping: The Invisible Crisis, on 13 Jul 2025 to raise awareness about the issue. Members of the public have since spoken up about how Kpods have destroyed their families, harmed their children and taken their loved ones’ lives.
Akil faces one additional charge under the Passports Act for making a false statement to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. He allegedly lied on 20 Jan 2025 about forgetting his bag containing his NRIC and passport at a coffee shop, claiming his passport was not returned to him.
Akil has been remanded since 20 Jun 2025 and is scheduled to plead guilty on 23 Jul 2025. The public can report vaping offences and the sale of vaping devices to the HSA Tobacco Regulation Branch by calling 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays.
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