The Central Narcotics Bureau has conducted its first major operation targeting a syndicate trafficking in etomidate-laced electronic vaporisers, resulting in eight arrests and the seizure of significant evidence. The anti-drug operation, launched on September 10, 2025, marks a significant escalation in enforcement efforts following the recent classification of etomidate as a Class C controlled drug.
The operation began in the early evening in the Telok Blangah Rise area, where CNB officers arrested two men, aged 26 and 28, at the void deck of a residential block. Both suspects were engaged in what appeared to be a transaction and resisted arrest, requiring officers to physically subdue them. A search of the individuals revealed 68 e-vaporiser pods believed to contain etomidate on the 26-year-old man, while the 28-year-old man was found in possession of five similar pods. Preliminary investigations indicated the men were likely conducting a drug transaction immediately before their apprehension.
The arrested men were then escorted to a residential unit within the same block, where officers apprehended another 26-year-old man. Shortly afterward, a 23-year-old man was arrested outside the same unit for suspected drug offenses. A thorough search of the residential unit yielded a substantial cache of vape-related products, including 327 e-vaporiser pods believed to contain etomidate, significantly expanding the scope of the seizure.
In parallel operations conducted the same evening, CNB officers arrested four additional Singaporean nationals in separate locations across the island. In the Hougang Avenue 9 area, two men aged 29 and 32 were arrested for suspected drug offenses. A search of their residence resulted in the discovery of several vape-related products and a substantial amount of cash totaling $20,818 Singapore dollars, 498 Chinese yuan, and 5,800 Malaysian ringgit, suggesting the financial scale of the operation.
In the Boon Lay Drive area, officers arrested a 23-year-old man in his residential unit where they found vape-related products, including five e-vaporiser pods believed to contain etomidate. An 18-year-old woman was subsequently arrested outside the unit and found with additional vape products, including one etomidate-laced pod. Preliminary investigation revealed that the woman had arranged to collect etomidate e-vaporisers from the male suspect, indicating an ongoing distribution network.
The total seizure from the operation included more than 400 e-vaporiser pods believed to contain etomidate and various currencies totaling over $21,000 in value. A senior CNB official stated that this operation demonstrates the bureau's commitment to stamping out controlled drugs, including harmful substances like etomidate, and sends a clear message that such illegal activities will not be tolerated. Investigations into the drug activities of all eight arrested suspects are ongoing.
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