From September 1, 2025, etomidate – an anaesthetic agent recently found in vapes – will be classified as a Class C controlled drug under Singapore’s Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA), Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced.
Key Points
- Etomidate-laced vape pods, known as Kpods, have been increasingly detected; random tests of seized vapes found one-third contained the substance.
- Under the MDA, it will be illegal to traffic, manufacture, import, export, possess, or consume etomidate without authorisation.
- Offenders will face tougher penalties, including mandatory rehabilitation, supervision, or commitment to a drug rehab centre—similar to how cannabis or cocaine use is treated.
- Previously, etomidate was only controlled under the Poisons Act, where users faced fines rather than drug offences.
- Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recently said Singapore would treat vaping as a drug issue, with stiffer penalties.
- Vaping is already illegal in Singapore, including buying online or overseas, as well as importing, distributing, or selling vape devices and components.
- Authorities have stepped up enforcement, seizing hundreds of vapes at checkpoints.
This move signals Singapore’s intent to crack down harder on vaping and harmful substances in e-cigarettes, treating users and traffickers under the same framework as narcotics offenders.
