Singapore Busts Illicit Vape Production; Suspect Charged with Five Offenses

Key points:

·A 41-year-old man in Singapore is facing charges for allegedly manufacturing e-cigarettes containing drugs. 

·He is accused of violating the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act. Over a thousand e-cigarette components and a large quantity of empty pods were seized from him. 

·The man has expressed his intention to plead guilty and is scheduled to appear in court on July 23rd.

【2Firsts News Flash】According to a report by Malaymail on July 17, a 41-year-old man in Singapore is being accused of illegally manufacturing e-cigarettes containing drugs in his home. The defendant, Mohammed Akil Abdul Rahim, is facing five charges under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act for allegedly manufacturing e-cigarettes in a block of flats in Yishun.

The accusation documents show that on December 11, 2024, law enforcement officers found 569 empty pod casings, 534 components, 1,485 pod covers, and 100 electronic pods at his residence. These tools and materials are believed to be used in the manufacturing of Kpodspods laced with fentanyl, which has garnered increasing public concern.

The prosecutor from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in Singapore told the court that they have prepared a plea agreement for the case. The defendant appeared in court via video link and expressed willingness to plead guilty to all charges, and stated that he does not plan to hire a lawyer.

The man was previously charged under the Poisons Act for possession and sale of the controlled hospital-grade sedative, etomidate. It is alleged that he sold 100 electronic pods containing the substance at the same location just past midnight on December 11. He was found in possession of 26.4 grams of white powder testing positive for the substance at around 5:30am that same morning.

Propofol is commonly used for intravenous sedation in medical procedures, but if inhaled or ingested, it can lead to serious side effects including seizures, difficulty breathing, and confusion.

In addition, the defendant also faces charges under the Passport Act for falsely claiming to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority in January 2025 that he had lost his passport at a coffee shop. He has been in custody since June 20 and is expected to plead guilty on July 23.