Thirteen Persons Convicted for Illegal Sale of Electronic Vaporisers Online; Total Fines Amount to Over $160,000 with One Jailed 13 Weeks for Sale of Unregistered Medicines

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has prosecuted 13 persons for selling electronic vaporisers (e-vaporisers) and related components online in Singapore. They were convicted in Court in the period of March 2021 to June 2021, with the total fines amounting to $164,500 (refer to Annex A for the details). 

2      The convicted persons were aged between 20 and 40 years. They had purchased the e-vaporisers and related components from overseas suppliers and sold them illegally on various local social media and e-commerce platforms. HSA conducts active surveillance on these platforms and will take enforcement actions against those who buy or sell such products online. More than $20,000 worth of e-vaporisers and related components have been seized (refer to Annex B for photos).

HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME CASES

Offender sold e-vaporisers, sleeping pills and other unregistered medicines 

3      Goh Yew Teck, aged 40 years, was issued with a fine of $13,000 on 14 May 2021 for his offences relating to importing, advertising as well as offering for sale e-vaporisers, related components and e-liquids with nicotine under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act. 

4      Besides e-vaporisers and their related components, Goh was also found to be selling unregistered medicines such as cough syrup and sleeping pills. He would purchase and smuggle the supplies from overseas and sell them on Carousell and WhatsApp. Cough syrup bottles, painkillers, sleeping pills and codeine phosphate tablets were found in his residence (refer to Annex B for photos). He was sentenced to 13 weeks’ imprisonment for his offences relating to the illegal health products under the Health Products Act.

Offender convicted for multiple offences 

5      Tan Qin Woon, aged 29 years, was caught bringing in 1,164 pieces of e-vaporisers and their related components with his accomplices at Woodlands Checkpoint. Further investigations revealed that Tan and his accomplices were also involved in selling these prohibited items. He was issued with a fine of $5,000 on 10 March 2021 for his e-vaporiser related offences. 

6      Tan was also sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment for his offences under the Customs Act, Misuse of Drugs Act and Road Traffic Act. The said accomplices are still undergoing court prosecutions. 

Offender offered for sale prohibited products on four different social media platforms

7      Cha Teng Chian, aged 29 years, used four different social media platforms, namely Instagram, Facebook, WeChat and WhatsApp, to advertise and sell e-vaporisers and their related components.

8      Cha was sentenced on 31 May 2021, with a total fine of $53,500 for his offences of advertising, sale and offer for sale of e-vaporisers and their related components.

ELECTRONIC VAPORISERS STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN SINGAPORE

9      HSA would like to remind the public that it is an offence under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act to sell, possess for sale, import or distribute e-vaporisers and their related components.  Any person who is convicted is liable to a fine of up to $10,000, or to an imprisonment term for up to 6 months or to both for the first offence, and to a fine of up to $20,000 or to imprisonment for up to 12 months or to both for the second or subsequent offence. 

10      From 1 January 2018 to 30 June 2021, HSA has prosecuted 56 persons for selling e-vaporisers and their related components.  The highest fine meted out so far was $99,000 for the illegal sale of these prohibited items.  HSA will continue to take strong enforcement actions against those convicted of selling e-vaporisers and their related components.

11      Since 1 February 2018, it is also an offence to possess, purchase or use e-vaporisers and their related components.  The penalty is a fine of up to $2,000 per offence. From 1 February 2018 to 30 June 2021, 4,316 people were caught and taken to task for the possession and use of e-vaporisers and their related components. Information pertaining to the prohibition of e-vaporisers in Singapore is available on HSA’s website.

12      The public is strongly advised not to import, purchase, supply or use prohibited tobacco products. Members of the public who have information on the illegal import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of prohibited tobacco products can submit a report conveniently using the online form at go.gov.sg/reporttobaccooffences.  Alternatively, they can contact HSA’s Tobacco Regulation Branch at Tel: 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during office hours (9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday).

STRONG STANCE AGAINST THE SALE OF ILLEGAL HEALTH PRODUCTS

13      HSA will take enforcement actions against those who engage in the import, manufacture or supply of illegal health products. Anyone caught importing, manufacturing and/or supplying of illegal health products is liable on conviction, to an imprisonment term for up to 2 years and/or fine of up to $50,000. Members of the public are encouraged to report any illegal activity involving health products to the Enforcement Branch of HSA at Tel: 6866-3485 during office hours (9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday) or email: hsa_is@hsa.gov.sg.

HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
28 JULY 2021

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Published: 28 Jul 2021

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