15 persons in S'pore fined for posting photos or videos of vapes on social media

More than 17,900 persons were caught for the possession and use of e-vaporisers from January 2024 to March 2025 as a result of stepped up, multi-agency enforcement efforts, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a May 16 joint news release.

This is part of their efforts to intensify enforcement action against vaping.

During this period, HSA seized more than S$41 million worth of e-vaporisers and components, and conducted 50 successful operations against largescale e-vaporiser syndicates.

Prosecution of sellers

HSA also prosecuted 60 persons, aged 17 to 43, for selling e-vaporisers, including two key persons in an e-vaporiser syndicate case involving over S$5 million worth of e-vaporisers.

The two persons, Ivan Sin Poh Meng and Toh Wee Leong, were sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment and a fine of S$16,000, and 10 months' imprisonment and a fine of S$14,000, respectively.

These were the highest sentences to date for the smuggling of e-vaporisers.

Separately, a key figure of another syndicate linked to a case of more than S$6.5 million worth of evaporisers was also nabbed in October 2024 and investigations are ongoing.

Failure to pay composition fines

HSA prosecuted 27 offenders, including 20 males and seven females, aged 20 to 46 years, who had failed to pay their composition fines.

Offenders who failed to make timely payment of fines for vaping offences faced harsher consequences.

They were penalised with higher fines and/ or jail sentences.

Border enforcement

HSA also worked closely with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to deter and detect attempts at smuggling vaping products through Singapore’s borders as part of the enforcement strategy, the news release said.

From January 2024 to March 2025, more than 20,800 travellers were checked at air, land and sea checkpoints during joint operations between HSA and ICA.

A total of 101 individuals were caught with e-vaporisers during these operations.

Additionally, ICA detected evaporiser smuggling cases involving 91 smugglers and referred them to HSA.

Travellers bringing prohibited tobacco products into Singapore will be fined, and transport companies and drivers involved in importing these products are liable to be prosecuted.

Convicted foreigners will be deported and barred from re-entering Singapore.

Take down listings

HSA is also collaborating more closely with local e-commerce and social media platforms to take down e-vaporiser online listings.

More than 6,800 listings of evaporiser and related components online were removed from January 2024 to March 2025.

This was more than double the 3,100 listings removed in 2023.

A total of 15 persons were also identified and fined for posting photographs or videos of e-vaporisers on their social media accounts in the same period.

Continued education efforts

HPB collaborates with primary and secondary schools to educate and encourage students to maintain a nicotine-free lifestyle through skits conducted during assembly periods.

Students are equipped with strategies to resist peer pressure and taught coping mechanisms to help them stay nicotine-free.

They are also encouraged to seek support from a trusted adult if they have concerns about a classmate’s behaviour.

Almost 118,500 students from schools and institutes of higher learning were engaged through educational skits, peer-led initiatives, and outreach activities aimed at raising awareness about the harms of vaping.

About 2,600 students were referred to HSA by schools and institutes of higher learning for vaping from January 2024 to March 2025.

HPB provides cessation support for students who are caught vaping through QuitLine, a tele-counselling service, and onsite counselling by Student Health Advisors at selected schools.

Close to 1,800 youths received smoking and vaping cessation counselling over the 15-month period.

To enhance cessation support, HPB will be embarking on a year-long virtual cessation counselling pilot with MOE for all secondary schools.

The pilot is planned to commence from July 2025.

Penalties

Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, the possession, use or purchase of e-vaporisers carries a maximum fine of S$2,000.

It is an offence to import, distribute, sell or offer for sale e-vaporisers and their components.

Any person convicted of an offence is liable to a fine of up to S$10,000, or imprisonment of up to six months or both for the first offence, and a fine of up to S$20,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months or both for the second or subsequent offence.

All prohibited tobacco items will be seized and confiscated.

HSA said it would like to remind those caught vaping to promptly pay their fines (Notice of Composition).

Those who fail to do so before the due date of the Notices will face harsher consequences if prosecuted in court.

All photos via MOH & HSA