Vaping and Etomidate Enforcement Update (April–June 2026)

MOH reported on 11 August 2026 that authorities caught and penalised 2,428 persons for possession or use of vaporisers from 1 April to 30 June 2026. Of these, 1,971 (81%) were regular vaporiser offenders and 457 were etomidate vaporiser offenders. The reported average was 809 cases per month during the quarter, about 30% below the 1,219 cases per month recorded from June to August 2025 before stricter measures took effect on 1 September 2025 (MOH, 11 August 2026).

During the same quarter, more than 3,900 vaporisers and related components were seized at checkpoints; HSA charged nine people in court for alleged import or supply of etomidate vaporisers, and 14 people were convicted of selling etomidate vaporiser pods. MOH also reported that 288 people had defaulted on rehabilitation between 1 September 2025 and 30 June 2026: 41 had been charged and were serving sentences, 152 were undergoing court proceedings, and investigations continued for 95. These are enforcement counts for the stated periods, not prevalence estimates for all vaping in Singapore (MOH, 11 August 2026).

The update describes a combined enforcement, rehabilitation and supervision framework. It records a four-month rehabilitation example delivered by the Institute of Mental Health and the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, while noting that enforcement action may follow rehabilitation defaults. It should not be read as a general clinical treatment recommendation or as changing the offence elements and penalties in the applicable legislation; current legal questions should be checked against the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act, Misuse of Drugs Act and related official guidance.