18-year-old nabbed for trying to sell an e-vaporiser at Toa Payoh playground to 13-year-old boy: HSA

SINGAPORE — An 18-year-old male was arrested by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Monday (27 November) for attempting to sell an e-vaporiser to a 13-year-old boy.

HSA said in a media release on Friday (1 December) that it had received a tip-off that the teenager had been selling e-vaporisers at a Toa Payoh HDB playground. More than 700 e-vaporisers and other related components, with an estimated street value of $15,400, were subsequently seized from the teenager’s home in Toa Payoh.

The teenager is currently assisting HSA in investigations. Meanwhile, a 36-year-old man who worked at West Mall, was fined $13,700 last Thursday (23 November) for selling e-vaporisers and their components to students in the area.

HSA advisory

HSA reminds the public that it is an offence to import, distribute, sell or offer for sale e-vaporisers and their components. All prohibited tobacco items will also be seized and confiscated.

Any person convicted of an offence is liable to a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a jail term of up to six months for the first offence. A second or subsequent offence could see a fine of up to $20,000 and/or a jail term of up to 12 months.

The public are also reminded that the possession, use or purchase of e-vaporisers is illegal and carries a maximum fine of $2,000. Those who have information on the illegal import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of e-vaporisers can contact HSA’s Tobacco Regulation Branch (6684-2036 or 6684-2037) during office hours.

Information on prohibited tobacco products in Singapore is available on HSA's website. Further details about the harms of e-vaporisers can be found on this HealthHub article.

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