A 27-year-old man in Singapore has made history as the first motorist to be convicted of driving under the influence of etomidate-laced vape pods, commonly called Kpods. Tung Jun Yu was sentenced on Tuesday (March 31) to five years and 18 months’ imprisonment, along with 10 strokes of the cane.
He was also disqualified from driving for five years from his release date after pleading guilty to five charges, including driving under the influence of drugs, dangerous driving, and drug trafficking.
Offences While Out On Bail
According to court documents, Tung committed the traffic offences while out on bail for earlier drug-related charges. On July 14, 2025, at around 5:41pm, he was spotted driving against the flow of traffic along Supreme Court Lane, a one-way, two-lane road. A motorist flagged him down, but Tung merely responded with “Huh?” and displayed his phone showing the Grab delivery app before continuing along the wrong lane. The witness, noting his dazed state and lack of alcohol smell, immediately alerted the authorities.
Less than an hour later, Tung collided with another vehicle near Bras Basah Road and Bencoolen Street. Investigations revealed that he remained in a lane designated for turning right, continued straight, and attempted to squeeze into the adjacent lane, hitting the rear of another car. The other driver observed Tung’s slurred speech and incoherent behaviour, while police found him slow to react, unable to fully open his eyes, and speaking unclearly. Three e-vapourisers were recovered from his vehicle.
Etomidate In Blood
A breathalyser test detected no alcohol, but analysis by the Health Sciences Authority showed 0.05 microgrammes of etomidate per millilitre of blood. Court documents confirmed that Tung had consumed the drug via an e-vapouriser before or during driving, rendering him unfit to operate his vehicle. Etomidate is a prescription-only anaesthetic, usually administered intravenously by medical professionals, and is known to impair consciousness and cause involuntary muscle jerks.
Earlier in his criminal history, Tung was arrested by the Central Narcotics Bureau on October 8, 2024, at a residential staircase landing. Officers later searched his bedroom and recovered over 41 grams of methamphetamine and more than 33 grams of cannabis, alongside S$400 in cash. Tung admitted the money came from delivering drugs for an individual known as “Binance,” who used Telegram to instruct him to transport methamphetamine, cannabis, Erimin-5 tablets, and ketamine to various locations.
Tung’s case highlights the evolving dangers of new psychoactive substances, including etomidate-infused Kpods, on road safety. Authorities emphasised that such drugs can severely impair driving ability, even in the absence of alcohol, and warned the public of the serious legal consequences involved.