{
  "id": 8848218,
  "title": "14-member e-cigarette syndicate revealed, husband-and-wife duo among six who plead guilty",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/14-member-e-cigarette-syndicate-revealed-husband-and-wife-duo-among",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T04:35:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Independent Singapore",
    "slug": "the-independent-singapore",
    "url": "https://theindependent.sg/14-member-e-cigarette-syndicate-revealed-husband-and-wife-duo-among-six-who-plead-guilty"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singapore authorities have uncovered a 14-member e-cigarette crime syndicate, led by a husband-and-wife duo. The woman was in charge of illicit distribution, while her husband handled finances and inventory. Together, they allegedly made $80,000 from the operation, which used a rented apartment as a warehouse. The syndicate comprised six individuals who pleaded guilty on September 17th, facing charges under the Tobacco (Advertising and Sales Control) Act and the Organized Crime Act. The investigation also found that the couple rented an apartment to store e-cigarettes and related components. Police seized 57,818 e-cigarettes and other materials during a raid on October 16th last year.",
  "summary": "Police have dismantled a 14-member e-cigarette crime syndicate. Six of the members pleaded guilty on Thursday (September 17), including a husband and wife. The husband was the ringleader, while the wife was in charge of distribution. They also rented an apartment to use as a warehouse. The couple illegally profited $80,000.",
  "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."
}