Those found guilty of importing, selling, and distributing etomidate vapes will face stiff penalties, said the HSA. -- ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Three people, including a teenager, were charged by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Oct 4 for the alleged trafficking of etomidate e-vaporiser pods.
Following HSA’s investigation of a suspected male etomidate abuser on Oct 2, HSA officers tracked down two of his alleged suppliers, 23-year-old Vernette Heng Cui Teng and a 17-year-old female, it said in a statement on Oct 4.
Sixty-four vapes and related components suspected to contain etomidate were seized from Heng’s residence. There were 16 such objects seized from the teenager’s residence.
Further investigations led HSA officers to 27-year-old Amir Shah for allegedly supplying etomidate pods to the teenager and another female etomidate abuser via the messaging app Telegram. Four vapes and related components suspected of containing etomidate were seized from his residence.
The seized pods are being tested for etomidate, and investigations are ongoing. The two etomidate abusers were fined on the spot and will be required to attend rehabilitation if their vapes contained etomidate.
Those found guilty of importing, selling, and distributing etomidate vapes will face stiff penalties, said the HSA.
This includes three to 20 years’ imprisonment and five to 15 strokes of the cane for imports, and two to 10 years’ imprisonment and two to five strokes of the cane for sellers and distributors. - The Straits Times/ANN
