S'porean reported missing in Vietnam arrested over alleged link to etomidate vape syndicate

A Singaporean man who was reported missing in Vietnam by his family has been arrested for his alleged role in an etomidate-laced vape syndicate.

30-year-old Oh Jiang Fong is accused of supplying the etomidate-laced e-liquid to the syndicate, reported the Voice of Vietnam.

According to VnExpress, Vietnamese police arrested 65 people on Jul. 31, including 10 foreigners believed to have played key roles in the operation.

This included four Singaporeans, four Malaysians and two Taiwanese nationals.

Police identified 30-year-old Malaysian Hoo Jia How and 30-year-old Singaporean Melvin Tan Junjie as the alleged ringleaders.

House raided

Vietnamese law enforcement said they uncovered the network in early July before raiding a house, where they seized 1,331 e-cigarette cartridges and 140ml of etomidate-laced e-liquid.

Based on the suspects' statements, Tan and Hoo allegedly collected the e-liquid from Oh, brought it to their rented house on Cong Quynh Street and filled the vape pods themselves before selling them to Vietnamese and foreign customers.

Some buyers allegedly resold the products, while others used them personally.

Previously reported missing

Photos released by Vietnamese police showed Oh handcuffed alongside the other suspects.

His family and friends had made online appeals on Jul. 23 after he went missing during a trip to Vietnam.

According to the posts, he left Singapore on Jul. 16 and was due to return two days later.