Yishun Man First in Singapore to Face Charges for Making Illegal K-Pods in Flat
A 41-year-old Singaporean man is the first person in the country to be charged with manufacturing K-pods — a dangerous vape product laced with a medical drug — from his HDB flat in Yishun.
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) confirmed this is the first case of its kind in Singapore, involving the illegal mixing of e-vaporiser pods containing etomidate, a sedative typically used in hospitals under strict medical supervision.
The accused, Mohammed Akil Bin Abdul Rahim, appeared in court on July 17, where he was hit with seven charges under HSA regulations. He also faces a separate charge from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for allegedly lying during a passport application.
Hundreds of Vape Items and Drug-Laced Pods Found
Court papers revealed that Akil allegedly sold 100 K-pods containing etomidate shortly after midnight on Dec. 11, 2024, directly from his home. When enforcement officers raided his unit at 5.30am that same day, they found a trove of materials that suggested large-scale production.
Among the seized items were 100 loose vape pods, two vaporiser box sets without pods, and hundreds of pod components — including 569 empty pod shells, 534 pod pieces, and 1,485 pod covers. Officers also recovered 26.4g of white powder later confirmed to be etomidate.
Etomidate, while medically approved for use as an anaesthetic, can cause serious side effects when misused. The HSA warns that unsupervised intake can lead to nausea, seizures, blood pressure changes and even psychotic episodes — highlighting the serious health risks of such black market vape products.
Man to Plead Guilty, Prosecutors Push for Jail Time
During court proceedings on July 23, Akil expressed that he would plead guilty to all charges, stating he did not wish to “waste the court’s time.” However, the judge requested further details from prosecutors before sentencing, including data on how widely K-pods are being used and how such cases have been handled in other legal precedents.
The HSA is pushing for a jail sentence of 12 to 15 months, while ICA is seeking an additional 6 to 8 weeks for the false statement Akil allegedly made during a passport renewal process in January 2025. He had reportedly lied about losing his passport at a coffee shop, which prosecutors say was entirely untrue.
Because this is the first case involving the illegal manufacturing of K-pods in Singapore, the judge also requested clarity on how sentencing should be handled, calling for a profile of end users and local statistics on the rise of vape-related drug misuse.
Drug Operations in Public Housing Raise Alarm
This case has raised serious concerns about how illegal drug operations can take place quietly within Singapore’s public housing estates. The discovery of a full-scale setup for making and distributing drug-laced vape products from a residential flat in Yishun has sparked renewed calls for vigilance among residents and stricter enforcement by authorities.
With vape addiction becoming a growing issue, especially among youths, the case also serves as a wake-up call to parents and educators to stay alert to such emerging threats. The Health Sciences Authority continues to urge the public not to consume or experiment with illegal vaping products, as the health consequences can be life-altering.
Akil is expected to return to court on August 11, where his final sentencing will be decided.