MORE than 700kg of vape and electronic cigarette products suspected of containing prohibited substances have been seized over the past three years, says the Home Ministry.
The ministry said the products are believed to have contained contraband substances such as synthetic drugs, tetrahydrocannabinol, mushroom extracts and other psychoactive compounds.
A total of 400 cases were recorded between 2023 and June 2026, resulting in 585 arrests and the seizure of 718.43kg of vape and e-cigarette products.
The largest quantity was seized in 2023, when authorities confiscated 471.50kg of products and made 66 arrests in 32 cases.
The figure fell to 62.68kg in 2024, involving 114 arrests across 92 cases, before rising again in 2025 with 115.22kg seized and 138 arrests made in 108 cases.
As of May 2026, authorities had seized a further 69.03kg of such products and made 267 arrests in 168 cases.
“The sale of these products targeted youths and students, with transactions detected through online platforms, social media and courier services.
“The ministry remains serious in monitoring this trend and will continue to take a strict and comprehensive approach to eliminate the threat posed by the misuse of dangerous vape products,” it said in a written parliamentary reply.
The ministry was responding to a question from Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) on the number of vape products containing prohibited substances seized so far.
“We also plan to strengthen intelligence gathering and cyber-monitoring capabilities to detect the sale of vape products containing prohibited substances on social media, messaging applications and e-commerce platforms.
“The ministry will also enhance the capacity of its forensic analysis and laboratory facilities to better identify prohibited substances used in vape liquids,” it added.
