A dramatic vape sting operation in Bishan on July 10 saw a Health Sciences Authority (HSA) enforcement officer leaping into a moving vehicle to stop a suspected vape peddler from escaping. The suspect, who had arranged to deliver drug-laced e-vapourisers known as “Kpods,” was cornered after trying to flee the scene during a planned sting.
The incident unfolded on Bishan Street 13, where undercover HSA officers had posed as buyers. As the suspect attempted to speed off in his grey car, an officer opened the front passenger door and jumped in, forcing the driver to stop roughly 50 metres away. A search of the vehicle revealed 28 vape devices and 814 pods—many believed to be laced with etomidate, a potent sedative classified under the Poisons Act.
Kpods, often referred to as “Space Oil” or “Zombie Vapes,” are highly dangerous, with users reporting seizures and psychotic episodes. A single seller had offered two pods for S$140 via Telegram, highlighting the ease with which such illicit products are being sold on social media.
The 27-year-old driver, who claimed to be just a delivery man, was later linked to a stash of vapes found in his home. This arrest marks the second in recent weeks. On June 23, a raid in Yishun led to the arrest of a 22-year-old hostess and her three friends—all allegedly disoriented after using Kpods just before the raid. Officers seized 219 vapes and components from the residence, believed to be used in a nightclub network.
Authorities are sounding the alarm as cases involving etomidate-laced vapes have nearly tripled this year—28 cases in just six months compared to 10 in all of 2024. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime recently warned of rising etomidate abuse in Southeast Asia, including Singapore.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) are now reviewing whether to tighten existing laws to tackle this evolving threat. “We’ve intensified operations, strengthened border controls, and increased presence in high-risk public areas,” said Jessica Teo, Assistant Group Director of HSA’s Vigilance, Compliance and Enforcement Cluster.
From January 2024 to March 2025, joint HSA and ICA operations screened more than 20,800 travellers, uncovering 101 vape-related offences. Another 91 smugglers were flagged by ICA and handed over to HSA. A major raid in January on an industrial unit yielded 8,700 vapes worth S$137,000, including etomidate-laced devices.
Overall, more than S$41 million worth of illegal vapes and components were seized over 15 months. Arrests surged, with over 14,600 offenders caught in 2024 alone—almost triple the 2022 figure. One of the largest busts occurred in March 2024, when two warehouse raids uncovered over 400,000 vapes worth more than S$6 million.
That same case made headlines again when suspects attempted to break into an HSA evidence storage facility to steal the seized vapes. The two accused were allegedly working under Chua Wee Ming, a major importer of illicit vape goods.
To further disrupt supply chains, HSA is working with social media platforms and e-commerce sites. From January 2024 to March 2025, more than 6,800 online listings for vapes were removed—double the amount in 2023. Additionally, 15 individuals were fined for posting vape-related content on social media.
Authorities stress that public vigilance is crucial. The government’s multi-agency response continues to adapt, but users are reminded that possession or use of etomidate-laced pods could result in up to two years’ jail, a S$10,000 fine, or both.
