Singaporean Jodan Chin Wei Liang Faces New Charges for 804 Etomidate Vape Pods
SINGAPORE — Jodan Chin Wei Liang, 27, was charged on September 5 with possessing for sale 804 vape pods containing etomidate, a powerful anesthetic drug, in a case tied to illegal vaping products known as Kpods.
The charges relate to an incident on July 10, when Chin was found with the vape pods at a carpark in Bishan Street 13. He was also accused of possessing two additional Kpods at a Bishan flat that day.
During the court hearing, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) prosecutor requested an increase in Chin’s bail from $10,000 to $15,000, which the court approved. Chin had applied for permission to leave Singapore for Malaysia and Vietnam indefinitely, but the judge rejected this due to the open-ended nature of the request. Chin was asked to reapply with specific travel dates.
Chin’s earlier charges involved possession of over 800 Kpods in various flavors such as “Zombie” and “Lucifer,” alongside 24 e-vaporisers without pods for sale.
Kpods are vapes laced with etomidate, a drug typically used medically to induce sedation intravenously. When vaped, etomidate can cause dangerous effects including spasms, breathing difficulties, seizures, and psychosis.
In August’s National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted the government’s move to treat vaping as a drug issue, introducing stiffer penalties.
As of September 1, first-time etomidate vape users under 18 face a $500 fine and mandatory rehab, while adults face a $700 fine with similar rehabilitation requirements.
Sellers of Kpods face severe punishments under the Misuse of Drugs Act, including jail terms ranging from two to 20 years and caning.
The public is encouraged to report vaping offenses to the Tobacco Regulation Branch or online via the government’s reporting portal. Support is available through the QuitVape national programme for those wanting to quit.
Authorities stress that those who seek help voluntarily to stop vaping will not face penalties.
