S’pore man, 27, charged for alleged trafficking of Kpods & unlicensed moneylending activities
Police uncovered more than 300 vaporisers and related components during a search of his unit.
In a recent police operation, a 27-year-old man named Chan Zhi Hao Felix was arrested for alleged trafficking of etomidate vaporiser pods, commonly referred to as Kpods, and unlicensed moneylending activities. The charges against Chan were laid down on August 20 under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993 (TVCA), and also under the Moneylenders Act 2008 for unlicensed moneylending activities.
According to The Straits Times, Chan was apprehended on August 12 during a raid at his rental unit in Marsiling. During the operation, over 300 vaporisers and their related components were seized by the authorities. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) was alerted and took over the seized items, later confirming the seizure of 56 vaporisers, 247 vaporiser pods, and a vaporiser battery.
Upon testing, Chan tested positive for etomidate in an instant urine test and admitted to vapping etomidate the night before his arrest. He was subsequently remanded for a week. Laboratory tests confirmed that the seized vaporiser pods contained etomidate. Some of the seized items were reportedly intended for Chan's personal consumption, while the majority were allegedly intended for distribution.
Investigations into this case are still ongoing, with the legal proceedings set to continue. Under the TVCA, the importation and supply of etomidate and its analogues are considered serious offenses. Those convicted of importing are liable to a jail term of three to 20 years, and a fine of five to 15 strokes of the cane. Suppliers, on the other hand, can face imprisonment for two to 10 years, and a fine of two to five strokes of the cane.
Written by urgent.news from Mothership's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
