1,500 vapes & parts seized, 123 travellers caught with vapes at S'pore checkpoints from Sep. 1 to 4

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) detected 123 cases of travellers with vapes, and seized 1,500 vapes and related parts at Singapore's checkpoints between Sep. 1 and Sep. 4.

The figures were shared by ICA in a Sep. 5 Facebook post.

30 per cent were residents

According to ICA, 70 per cent of the cases involved short-term visitors and 30 per cent were residents, including Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders.

The 123 cases detected include those who voluntarily disposed of their vapes at the checkpoints.

"Since Sep. 1, individuals caught possessing, using or importing e-vaporisers will face higher penalties," ICA wrote in the post.

Short-term visitors who re-offend will be banned from re-entering Singapore.

Long-term pass holders who re-offend may also have their passes revoked on a third offence.

They will also be deported and banned from re-entry.

ICA announced last month that it was stepping up enforcement action against vapes at Singapore's border checkpoints.

This includes increasing the frequency of checks and more prominently displaying signages that warn travellers about the legality of vaping in Singapore.

ICA said then that while efforts to detect vape smuggling had been in place all along, the stepped-up enforcement will see its officers take more measures to detect vapes.

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Top image via ICA / Facebook