PHV driver sends passenger to Geylang police station for vaping & displaying 'zombie-like' symptoms

Suspecting that his male passenger was consuming K-pods, a private-hire vehicle (PHV) driver drove to the nearby police station in Geylang.

The passenger, a 25-year-old man, was arrested and later found with a vape and one pod that contained etomidate.

The passenger has been fined and will be sent for rehabilitation.

Passenger displayed 'zombie-like' symptoms

The incident was recounted through the driver's friend, who spoke to Mothership.

According to the friend, the passenger was picked up at around 12:30am on May 11 from City Plaza in Paya Lebar.

The driver quickly noticed that the passenger displayed "zombie-like" symptoms.

Dashboard camera footage seen by Mothership showed the passenger, who was wearing a white t-shirt and shorts, leaning against a road sign.

As the car approached, the passenger could be seen walking towards the car with a wobbly gait.

Denied using drugs, but started vaping

Sensing that something was off, the driver asked the passenger if he was using drugs, to which the passenger denied, according to Shin Min Daily News, which also reported on the same incident.

The passenger then started vaping in the car.

When the driver called him out for it, the passenger got "aggressive".

"It made the whole car smell like vape, so [the driver] drove to the police station," the driver's friend said.

Attempted to jump out of car

According to Shin Min, the passenger started apologising upon learning that the driver was headed to the police station and insisted that he was not vaping.

The passenger also attempted to jump out of the vehicle, but was stopped by the driver.

The passenger was later detained at the police station.

Passenger found with vape and pod containing etomidate: HSA

Responding to Mothership's queries, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) spokesperson said the Singapore Police Force referred a case involving a 25-year-old man on May 11.

The man was found with one vaporiser and one pod which have been tested to contain etomidate.

The 25-year-old was fined and will be sent for rehabilitation at the Drug Rehabilitation Centre.

Under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act that came into force on May 1, 2026, those found abusing etomidate can be fined up to S$20,000, or face up to 10 years' imprisonment, or both.