Singapore authorities have foiled another attempt to smuggle prohibited vaping devices into the country, after a stash of e-vaporisers was uncovered at Woodlands Checkpoint.
Officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) discovered 212 vaping-related items hidden inside packages labelled as laundry detergent powder. The concealment was uncovered during enhanced checks conducted on a Singapore-registered vehicle entering the country.
The 39-year-old Singaporean male driver has since been arrested. The case has been handed over to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for further investigation, as authorities continue tightening enforcement against illegal vape imports.
Disguised As Household Goods At Woodlands
The attempted smuggling took place on Feb. 6 at Woodlands Checkpoint, one of Singapore’s busiest land entry points. ICA officers were alerted by intelligence from the Integrated Targeting Centre, prompting them to carry out additional inspections on the vehicle.
During the search, officers found two detergent powder packages in the car boot. Upon closer inspection, the packages did not contain cleaning products but instead concealed two vape devices and 210 vape pods.
Images released by ICA on social media showed the neatly packed items hidden within the falsely labelled packaging — an apparent attempt to evade border detection systems. The method reflects increasingly creative smuggling tactics as illegal vape demand persists despite strict regulations.
Singapore maintains one of the toughest anti-vaping regimes globally, with strong border security, advanced cargo screening technology and coordinated enforcement operations designed to curb contraband tobacco and e-cigarette imports.
Rising Enforcement & Tougher Penalties
The incident comes amid heightened nationwide enforcement efforts. In 2025 alone, joint operations involving ICA, HSA and the Central Narcotics Bureau detected 59 large-scale smuggling cases through foreign intelligence collaboration.
Authorities seized approximately 230,000 vapes and related products in those operations — a significant haul reflecting the scale of the illicit trade.
Since Sept. 1, 2025, Singapore has imposed enhanced penalties for vaping products laced with etomidate, a powerful anaesthetic agent. Under the revised framework, importers convicted of bringing such products into the country face between three and 20 years’ imprisonment, alongside five to 15 strokes of the cane.
Sellers and distributors face jail terms ranging from two to 10 years, with caning of between two and five strokes.
The latest arrest reinforces Singapore’s zero-tolerance stance on e-cigarettes and related devices. Authorities have repeatedly warned that smuggling attempts — even in small quantities — carry severe legal consequences, including long prison terms and corporal punishment.
With border agencies leveraging intelligence-led profiling and enhanced screening technologies, enforcement bodies signal that attempts to disguise illegal goods as everyday household items will continue to be detected and dealt with firmly.