E-vaporiser pods found hidden in cargo declared as ‘power banks’

SINGAPORE: Officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) stopped an unusual cargo at the Pasir Panjang Scanning Station on September 17, 2025. As the ICA later found out, the cargo was one that was hiding more than just a spare charge. What was declared as a shipment of “power banks” turned out to contain e-vaporiser pods, cleverly concealed within the consignment.

The discovery was made during enhanced checks on an inbound cargo container. Thankfully, the ICA officers’ sharpness, which helped them uncover the hidden pods, paid off, preventing the pods from making their way into the local market. The case was then handed over to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for further investigation, as stated by the ICA.

Singaporean suspect arrested

A joint operation between HSA and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Singapore Police Force led to investigators identifying a 25-year-old Singaporean man believed to be behind the smuggling attempt. He was arrested on Sept 18, for his suspected role in importing the seized items, under Section 16(2) of the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act 1993. The law prohibits the import, distribution and sale of e-vaporisers in Singapore, which shows the country’s tough stance against vaping.

Protecting Singapore’s borders

In a statement on Facebook, ICA emphasised that border security is a key part of its strategy to keep e-vaporisers out of Singapore. The authority described its officers as the “guardians of our borders,” committed to keeping Singapore safe from illegal goods and emerging threats. The agency reiterated its mission to safeguard the nation’s checkpoints by maintaining vigilance and working closely with other enforcement bodies.

This seizure showed how smugglers continue to find new ways to disguise illegal items. However, this also showed how Singapore’s enforcement system are able to keep up with the smugglers’ creativity.

Netizens react

The post quickly drew attention on Facebook; many social media users expressed their admiration for the officers’ continued vigilance with their comments. Statements like: “Well done, ICA and the team of enforcement agency”, and “ICA, keep it up”, show the people’s appreciation for this operation.

Others, however, called for tougher punishments to help deter others from committing the same crime. One user’s comment stated, “Jail to the max!”

However, as Singaporeans usually do, some netizens couldn’t resist injecting humour. One cheeky remark — “Which flavour do they have in stock?” — stood out among the comments.

Taken together, these reactions show that Singaporeans support ICA’s vigilance while also engaging with the issue in their own way. Some social media users take it with pride, others with humour, and a few others with stern calls for accountability.

Read also: SMRT strengthens regional ties at Metro Alliance Exchange Meeting in Taichung