Man, 36, arrested for selling e-vaporisers to students
HSA receives tipoff on retail outlet in a neighbourhood mall selling the items to students
SINGAPORE —A 36-year-old man has been arrested for selling prohibited electronic vaporisers to students, and is cooperating with the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) with its investigations.
In a media statement on Tuesday (31 January), HSA said it had conducted in-depth surveillance and intelligence gathering after receiving a tipoff that a retail outlet in a neighbourhood mall had been selling the items to students.
An operation was conducted at a West Mall retail outlet and a Tampines residence, where they caught the man last Friday (20 January). More than 400 e-vaporisers and 350 related components were seized, worth an estimated $11,000.
HSA warns sellers of prohibited e-vaporisers
HSA warned that it will not hesitate to take stern action against those who sell prohibited e-vaporisers to the general public, especially to the youths and students.
Import, distribution, sale, or offer for sale of imitation tobacco products is prohibited under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act. The products include shisha tobacco, smokeless tobacco, chewing tobacco such as Gutkha, Khaini, Zarda, and e-vaporisers.
First-time offenders face fines up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment up to six months if convicted. Second or subsequent offences can result in fines up to $20,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months.
Purchasing, using, and possessing such products are also illegal. Each offence is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 per violation. The confiscation and seizure of all prohibited tobacco items will also take place.
Vaping on the rise, more caught in 2022
The Straits Times reported that almost four times as many people last year were caught for using and possessing e-vaporisers than in 2020.
According to HSA data, there were 4,916 people were caught for the offence in 2022, compared to 1,266 in 2020, and 4,697 in 2021.
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