An 18-year-old has been charged in court for allegedly trafficking vaporiser pods laced with etomidate, following an enforcement operation by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).
The accused, Goh Shao Zhi Cornelius, is said to have marketed and sold the pods through messaging platform Telegram, targeting buyers online.
Acting on a tip-off, HSA officers conducted a raid at his residence last Saturday, where they seized a vaporiser device, 108 pods and a packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes. Laboratory tests later confirmed the pods contained etomidate, with investigations still ongoing.
Authorities noted that this marks the third case involving teenagers linked to the illegal distribution of etomidate vape products, following two similar cases last year.
The case has been adjourned to May 4 as legal proceedings continue.
In a broader context, enforcement agencies have stepped up efforts to curb the misuse of vaporisers, especially those containing controlled or psychoactive substances, amid rising public health concerns.
HSA stressed that strict penalties are in place under the enhanced framework introduced on September 1, 2025, where offenders involved in importing or distributing such substances face severe punishment.
Additionally, from May 1, the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993 will classify etomidate and related compounds as Specified Psychoactive Substances, aligning penalties with those under the Misuse of Drugs Act, including lengthy prison terms and caning for offenders.
