Singapore is stepping up its fight against the misuse of vapes laced with the anaesthetic agent etomidate. In Parliament, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim announced that Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PR) caught abusing these substances overseas will face legal repercussions as if they committed the offence locally. This aligns with the law under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) that has been in effect since 1 September 2024.
Understanding the New Measures
Previously, etomidate was listed under the Poisons Act, where abusers only faced fines. However, with its new classification as a Class C drug, the penalties have become significantly harsher:
- First-time offenders aged 18 and above face a fine of $700 and must attend rehabilitation for up to six months.
- Second-time offenders will undergo mandatory supervision for six months, including drug testing and rehabilitation.
- For third-time offenders aged 16 and older, the consequences intensify—with a 12-month regime at the Drug Rehabilitation Centre followed by ongoing supervision.
Enforcement Actions
To curb trafficking, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reported that between 15 September 2024 and 14 September 2025, it intercepted 76 cases of large-scale smuggling at checkpoints and 57 through postal channels. Also, the police and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) are jointly tackling vape trafficking operations.
Statistics and Public Response
Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung shared concerning statistics on vaping trends:
- Nearly 10,000 cases of possession or use of vapes were identified in the first eight months of this year, with over half of these users under 25.
- There were 70 instances of etomidate-laced vape possession or use during the same period.
Furthermore, initiatives such as “Bin the Vape” have encouraged users to properly dispose of their devices—resulting in over 6,000 vapes being collected. The government has empowered more than 10,000 officers to enforce the updated vaping laws.
Future Considerations
As part of ongoing efforts, the Ministry of Health is keen to observe the manufacturing risks of etomidate vapes within Singapore. Health Minister Ong concluded by emphasizing that etomidate is still a crucial anaesthetic agent for urgent medical procedures and the government has no plans to phase it out.