Man, 31, charged with trafficking Kpods found in rental car after traffic accident

A 31-year-old man was charged with trafficking etomidate vaporiser pods (Kpods) after a traffic accident.

Tan Jun Yuan Jovan was charged on Aug. 12 under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993 (TVCA).

On Aug. 10, the traffic police attended to a road traffic accident involving Tan’s rental car and a taxi.

Officers found two vaporisers and 94 vaporiser pods during a search of the car.

Health Sciences Authority (HSA) officers were alerted and took over the seized items at the scene.

Traffic police officers then arrested Tan and handed him over to HSA to assist with the investigation.

He apparently tested positive for etomidate in an instant urine test and admitted that he vaped etomidate in the morning before the accident.

He was remanded for a week.

Laboratory testing also revealed the seized pods contained etomidate.

A vaporiser and pod seized were allegedly intended for Tan’s consumption.

The rest were apparently intended for supply.

Investigations into the vaporiser and etomidate trafficking offences are ongoing.

Tan is also assisting in the traffic police’s investigations under the Road Traffic Act 1961.

The case was mentioned again in court on Aug. 19.

The case has been adjourned to Sep. 28.

Under TVCA, etomidate and its analogues are listed as specified psychoactive substances in the schedule.

Importers found guilty are liable to three to 20 years’ jail and five to 15 strokes of the cane, while suppliers found guilty are liable to two to 10 years’ jail and two to five strokes of the cane.