How Singapore is waging a hardline war on vaping

It is a busy day at Singapore's Woodlands Checkpoint, the main land crossing with Malaysia, where thousands of vehicles inch forward under the scrutiny of customs officers.

Customs officer Belinda Liaw signals a white Toyota van to stop. Her team quickly surrounds the vehicle, knocking along the chassis to check for hidden compartments while others question the driver, inspect his belongings and search his mobile phone.

They are looking for vapes, which Singapore has banned since 2018.

While e-cigarettes have long been illegal, drug-laced vapes, known on the street as K-pods, have surged in recent years, alarming authorities in a country known for its zero-tolerance drug policies, reports the BBC.

K-pods are vapes infused with etomidate, an anaesthetic with effects similar to ketamine.

The government has responded with an aggressive crackdown, introducing tougher penalties and preparing further legislation. Those caught with vapes can now face jail, mandatory rehabilitation or caning, alongside heavy fines. 

A nationwide public health campaign warns of the dangers of vaping.

The World Health Organization has described Singapore's campaign as a "turning point" that could shape global tobacco and drug policy.

At the checkpoint, the van is cleared and waved through. 

Most vapes enter Singapore from Malaysia, according to the BBC. Liaw said smugglers had hidden them inside air-conditioning units, cartons of light switches and even bread delivery vans. 

Recently, smugglers have shifted to bringing in smaller quantities concealed throughout vehicles.

Customs officers now rely on X-ray machines, manual inspections and evolving tactics to intercept the shipments. 

Smugglers' methods were changing, "so we have to work harder," Liaw added.

Singapore banned vapes in 2018 as a precaution while studying their health effects. 

Despite the ban, an underground online market flourished. 

Vapers told the BBC they could easily buy supplies through forums and messaging apps.

The emergence of K-pods intensified concerns. Videos of young people collapsing in public or behaving erratically – all after puffing on K-pods – went viral. 

Singapore tightens grip on vapes

A random test last July found that about one-third of seized vapes contained etomidate.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong later declared vaping a drug issue, warning that vapes were merely delivery devices and that stronger substances could appear in the future.

In September, authorities introduced harsher penalties, including fines of up to S$10,000 ($7,780) and mandatory rehabilitation. Sellers face up to 20 years in prison and up to 15 strokes of the cane. 

Foreigners face the same penalties and possible deportation.

Schools have also imposed strict rules, including suspension, expulsion and caning for students caught vaping.

More measures are expected as the government prepares laws targeting etomidate and similar substances. 

Vape disposal bins have been placed across the island, while patrols and bag checks have increased at transport hubs. 

A public hotline, set up to report anyone suspected of vaping, received over 2,600 reports in its first nine weeks.

A widespread public health campaign has accompanied the crackdown, with advertisements referencing popular films and television shows to reach young audiences. 

Several ads highlight real-life cases involving serious injuries and deaths linked to drug-laced vapes.

Between September and November, nearly 2,000 people were arrested for vaping-related offences.

Authorities say their campaign has produced results. Police say drug-laced vapes now account for less than 10% of seizures.

Criticism

Public opposition has been limited, though some vapers privately criticise the policy. 

One vaper, using the pseudonym Michael, said banning vapes was excessive, arguing that cigarettes remained legal despite known harms.

Another vaper, Toby (also a pseudonym), said he understood the need to protect youths but felt the ban unfairly punished adults who used regular vapes. 

He added that he planned to return to smoking cigarettes.

Some have questioned whether the 2018 ban helped fuel the black market. 

An editorial in the independent magazine Jom argued the prohibition created incentives for high-value illicit products like K-pods.

The BBC reported the government had yet to respond to its request for comment.

Public health experts remain divided. Singaporean officials argue an outright ban has contained the problem, while critics in countries such as the UK say vaping is less harmful than smoking and useful for quitting cigarettes.

Singaporean officials argue that an outright ban has contained the problem, while critics in countries such as the UK say vaping is less harmful than smoking and useful for quitting cigarettes.

Singapore maintains that vapes can deliver higher nicotine levels, are more addictive and contain harmful chemicals.

While some countries have taken a regulatory approach, at least 46 countries now ban vape sales, and 82 more have some form of regulation, reports the BBC.

Despite the crackdown, vapers say supplies remain available, and some cross into neighbouring countries to buy them. 

One Indonesian tourism official has even promoted nearby Batam as a destination for vaping.

As one vaper put it, enforcement might reduce use, but "you can never fully get rid of it."