Singapore man jailed 16 months in first conviction over etomidate-laced vape pods

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man was sentenced to 16 months’ jail and fined S$400 on 26 August in the country’s first conviction involving vape pods laced with the anaesthetic drug etomidate.

Mohammed Akil Abdul Rahim, 41, was found guilty of producing the pods for sale to e-vaporiser users. He had earlier pleaded guilty on 13 August to multiple charges related to vaping offences and making a false statement to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

Deputy Principal District Judge Ong Chin Rhu stressed the need for deterrence in such cases, warning that etomidate poses serious health risks. The court heard that the drug has been detected in several unnatural deaths, including a fatal road accident earlier this year.

Link to fatal accident and public health risks

On 25 July, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) confirmed that etomidate was found in the blood samples of two people involved in a May accident along Punggol Road.

The case added urgency to growing concerns about the abuse of chemical substances in illicit vaping products circulating in Singapore.

Home lab discovered in Yishun flat

Akil was arrested in December 2024 after HSA officers raided his Yishun flat and found 26.4 grams of white powder containing enough etomidate to prepare more than 70 vape pods.

He was living with his mother at the time and was said to be facing financial difficulties. Investigations revealed that he met a man known only as “Joe” at a Johor mall in October 2024, who offered him work mixing and filling vape pods for sale in Singapore.

Supplies, including pod casings, e-liquid and etomidate powder, were delivered to him by courier. Akil mixed the substances at home and stored the completed pods before distributing them to local buyers.

He earned S$10 per pod and admitted he knew vaping products were illegal in Singapore but proceeded for financial gain.

Botched delivery leads to arrest

On 11 December 2024, Akil agreed to supply 100 pods to a contact known as “Beast.” The order was collected by a delivery driver but later handed to the police when the courier realised the contents were vape-related.

That same day, enforcement officers raided Akil’s flat and seized the materials. He was arrested on the spot.

False passport report and attempted travel

Although Akil’s passport was impounded during investigations, he later tried to leave for Malaysia to visit his girlfriend.

In January 2025, he filed a false police report to the ICA claiming that both his identity card and passport had been lost at a coffee shop, even though only his IC had been returned. Based on the report, ICA issued him a new passport, which he used to travel overseas several times before the deception was uncovered.

Judge Ong noted that Akil’s conduct showed “transnational elements” and suggested possible links to a broader supply network.

Etomidate to be classified as controlled drug

Etomidate, a fast-acting anaesthetic, is currently regulated under the Poisons Act. From 1 September 2025, it will be listed as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA), according to the Ministry of Health.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced the reclassification on 24 August, saying it would give authorities stronger powers to curb misuse and trafficking.

“The government is tightening enforcement against the abuse of vape-related substances,” he said, echoing remarks made by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the National Day Rally.

Class C substances are considered less harmful than Class A or B drugs but remain subject to strict regulation. Other drugs in this category include Erimin-5 (nimetazepam), a hypnotic used in prescription sedatives.

Growing crackdown on vape-related offences

Authorities have stepped up enforcement in recent months amid a rise in cases involving illegal vape products, many containing unregulated or dangerous chemicals.

HSA and the police have warned that users of tainted vape liquids face significant health risks, including respiratory distress, loss of consciousness, and cardiac complications.

In sentencing Akil, Judge Ong said the case underscored the “serious and evolving nature” of vape-related offences.

“Public safety demands that those who exploit these substances for profit face proportionate punishment,” she added.