18,400 Vapes Seized in Largest Land Checkpoint Haul

 

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority has intercepted the largest shipment of smuggled electronic vaporisers detected at Singapore's land checkpoints since enhanced penalties came into force. The seizure occurred on Monday, September 15, 2025, at the Tuas Checkpoint, where officers uncovered a massive cache of contraband.

At approximately 7:00 a.m. on Monday, a Malaysia-registered lorry arrived at the checkpoint. Officers from ICA's Integrated Targeting Centre, utilizing advanced pre-arrival risk assessment protocols, profiled the vehicle and identified it as high-risk. Consequently, the lorry was directed to undergo enhanced and thorough checks.

During the inspection, officers discovered the true nature of the cargo. Instead of the declared goods, which were listed on the manifest as "components for motorised external roll-up blinds," the lorry was found to be transporting a vast quantity of prohibited items. The haul consisted of more than 18,400 electronic vaporisers and an additional 1,400 related components, such as batteries and cartridges.

This seizure represents the most significant interception of its kind since September 1, 2025, when Singapore implemented significantly stronger penalties for vaping-related offenses. These changes included listing etomidate—an anesthetic agent commonly found in illicit vaporisers known as Kpods—as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, leading to harsher punishments for users, suppliers, and traffickers.

A Malaysian man, the driver of the lorry, was arrested at the scene in connection with the case. He has been referred to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for further investigation. HSA is the agency responsible for enforcing laws related to tobacco and vaporiser products, and it will lead the inquiry into this large-scale smuggling attempt.

The ICA emphasized the critical role of border security in the nation's comprehensive strategy to combat the distribution and use of electronic vaporisers. The authority reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Singapore's borders through vigilant checks, advanced profiling technology, and rigorous enforcement measures. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of their multi-layered approach to security, which combines intelligence-led risk assessment with physical inspections to detect and deter smuggling attempts, no matter how creatively the contraband is concealed.