Overview

• MOH and HSA said 656 people were caught for vape offences from Sep 1 to Sep 21, including 65 suspected etomidate cases, with 44 confirmed to possess etomidate-laced devices, 12 testing negative and nine pending results.
• Thirty-nine etomidate users have started or are set to begin rehabilitation through IMH or social service agencies, with participation required in lieu of prosecution under the new framework.
• Over the past three weeks, authorities detected one suspected trafficking case for etomidate vapes and 27 smuggling cases for regular vapes, seizing more than 25,000 e‑vaporisers and related components.
• HSA received 1,050 public reports on vaping activities, including 34 related to suspected etomidate use, and removed over 170 online listings, while 19 people enrolled in QuitVape and 89 signed up for the HPB I Quit programme.
• Etomidate is temporarily listed as a Class C drug under the MDA with tougher penalties, including up to 20 years’ jail and up to 15 strokes for importers and up to 10 years’ jail and up to five strokes for sellers, and Thai media reported a Sep 26 arrest in Bangkok of a Singaporean accused of selling Kpods.