A total of 2,589 individuals were caught and penalised for possessing and using vapes in the first three months of 2026, with hundreds linked to etomidate-related vaporisers, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).
In a joint statement on Monday (May 4), the agencies said 377 of those cases involved etomidate vaporiser offenders. Of the total, 256 individuals were placed under rehabilitation programmes as enforcement measures were stepped up since Sept 1.
Authorities said this brings the total number of individuals enrolled in rehabilitation programmes to 520 since the enhanced enforcement framework began. So far, 123 people have completed their rehabilitation, while 28 others are facing court action for failing to comply, with another 42 cases still under investigation.
Under the current framework, first-time etomidate vape offenders and second-time vape offenders are required to undergo mandatory rehabilitation, with failure to comply potentially leading to prosecution in court.
MOH and HSA also highlighted a case involving a 12-year-old girl who successfully completed rehabilitation after being caught vaping for a second time, with her parents reporting improvements in her behaviour, school attendance and academic performance.
Separately, authorities said more than 36,000 vapourisers and related components were seized at Singapore’s air, land and sea checkpoints in the first quarter of 2026, alongside 24 smuggling cases detected.
Eleven smugglers have been prosecuted, while 13 individuals linked to vape sales are currently under investigation.
Officials also noted increased enforcement against online activity, with 10 individuals fined for posting vaping-related content on social media and more than 600 online listings removed during the same period.
In schools and higher education institutions, 206 students were referred to HSA for vaping-related offences, while over 270 youths received counselling for smoking and vaping cessation.
To strengthen support measures, the Health Promotion Board, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has introduced a virtual cessation counselling pilot programme for secondary schools starting March 2026, with confidentiality assurances for participants.
