JOHOR BARU: Malaysians, especially young people, should not be tempted by syndicates that offer quick cash to smuggle vapes into Singapore.
Those who are caught will have to face the island republic's strict laws on their own.
Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said he was concerned about the number of vape smuggling cases involving Malaysians.
"As we all know, Johor was the first state in Malaysia to totally ban the sale of vape, including vape liquids, to the public since 2016.
"This means no local council has issued licences for premises to sell such items.
"Singapore has also banned e-cigarettes, including vapes, and it is illegal to use and possess such products under their law," he said when contacted on Sunday (Sept 15).
Ling, who is also the Yong Peng assemblyman, said with strict laws already in place in both Johor and Singapore, syndicates were becoming more desperate.
"Some syndicates are using social media and e-commerce platforms to sell vapes to avoid action from the authorities.
"Others are luring locals, particularly youths, to smuggle contraband across the Causeway or Second Link by offering large sums of money," he said.
Ling urged locals to be vigilant when approached by syndicates to carry such items into Singapore.
"There is no such thing as easy money. Once caught by Singapore authorities, they will be left to face the consequences of breaking the law there," he said.
Ling added that the Johor government fully supports the Health Ministry’s move to table a Cabinet Memorandum on banning electronic cigarettes and vaping.
He said a total ban in Malaysia would give enforcement agencies, including the Health Department, more power to act against vape sales.
On Aug 23, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said a Cabinet Memorandum on banning electronic cigarettes and vaping would be tabled before the Cabinet by the end of this year at the latest.
"I made a brief presentation of the proposal report.
"The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Cabinet have asked me to submit a Cabinet Memorandum towards banning vaping.
"As I have always said, it is not a matter of 'if', but 'when'.
"I am responsible for fulfilling this directive, and the question now is the method, timing, and approach," he said.
According to the Straits Times, more than 15,000 vapes and related components were seized at the land crossings in June and July alone.
These included two attempts, one on June 27 and the other on July 8, both at Woodlands Checkpoint, where a total of more than 7,400 vape products were discovered.
On Aug 6, Johor Customs officers stopped a lorry at the export lane of the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex at the Second Link crossing in Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah.
Inspections found 256 boxes of vape liquid pods hidden behind the driver’s seat.
This led to the seizure of 7,680 pods worth RM46,080, with unpaid taxes and duty amounting to RM9,676.
