Man, 24, charged for importing Kpods: 2 vapes & 100 pods allegedly found in his car at Woodlands Checkpoint

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has charged a 24-year-old man, Sheikh Omar Bin Mohamed Ismail, in court on Jul. 2, 2026, for the alleged importation of etomidate vaporiser pods, or Kpods.

According to an HSA press release on Jul. 9, Sheikh was detained by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers while entering Singapore through Woodlands Checkpoint on Jun. 30.

ICA officers discovered two vaporisers and 100 vaporiser pods concealed in the car and alerted HSA.

HSA officers attended the scene and took over investigations.

Two other vaporisers seized from home

Two other vaporisers were seized from his home, and laboratory testing confirmed that the seized pods contained etomidate.

Sheikh was remanded for a week to assist with further investigations.

The case was mentioned again in court on Jul. 9, and has been adjourned to Aug. 18.

According to the press release, investigations are ongoing.

Penalties

Under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993 (TVCA), etomidate and other similar substances are listed as specified psychoactive substances.

If convicted, importers face a sentence of three to 20 years’ imprisonment and five to 15 strokes of the cane.

Suppliers face a sentence of two to 10 years’ imprisonment and two to five strokes of the cane upon conviction.