{
  "id": 17353561,
  "title": "Deliveryman charged over alleged trafficking of 124 etomidate-filled vape cartridges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/deliveryman-charged-over-alleged-trafficking-of-124-etomidate-filled",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T06:00:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Independent Singapore",
    "slug": "the-independent-singapore",
    "url": "https://theindependent.sg/deliveryman-charged-over-alleged-trafficking-of-124-etomidate-filled-vape-cartridges"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singapore's Health Sciences Authority has charged a 38-year-old deliveryman for suspected trafficking of e-cigarette cartridges containing etomidate, also known as 'zombie cartridges'. The suspect was apprehended during an enforcement operation in Jurong East on October 20, 2023, by authorities. At the time of his arrest, the suspect was allegedly delivering the items to customers. According to investigators, the suspect had an envelope with three e-cigarette cartridges on him, and an additional 121 cartridges were found in his bag and motorcycle. The cartridges were confirmed to contain etomidate. The suspect, who was working as a delivery rider at the time, has been remanded in custody for a week to aid further investigations related to this case. The Health Sciences Authority emphasized that offences involving e-cigarettes and etomidate have severe consequences. The penalty for importing etomidate can range from three to 20 years in prison, and two to five strokes of the cane. Trafficking etomidate and its analogues can result in a sentence of two to ten years' imprisonment and two to five strokes of the cane.",
  "summary": "SINGAPORE: The Health Sciences Authority charged a 38-year-old man in court for suspected trafficking of e-cigarette cartridges containing etomidate, which is also commonly known as the ‘zombie cartridges’. The suspect was reportedly arrested by the authorities during an enforcement operation in Jurong East last October 20 this year. Case details revealed that the authorities found an envelope…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}