13-year-old girl caught using vape laced with anaesthetic outside State Courts

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13-year-old girl caught using vape laced with anaesthetic outside State Courts​

The girl was unsteady on her feet and appeared to be oblivious to her surroundings, a sign of possible drug intoxication, says HSA.

Vapes and pods seized from the 25-year-old seller and 13-year-old girl. (Photos: Health Sciences Authority)

13 May 2025 11:12AM

SINGAPORE: A 13-year-old girl is assisting with investigations after she was spotted using an e-vaporiser that was laced with an anaesthetic outside the State Courts, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Tuesday (May 13).

HSA was alerted to the case on Apr 24 after the girl had "behaved erratically" while vaping in public outside the courts in Chinatown.

"She was unsteady in gait and appeared to be oblivious of her surroundings; a sign of possible drug intoxication," said the authority.

Officers from HSA identified the 13-year-old girl and raided her residence, seizing a vape that has been tested to contain etomidate.

Etomidate is a medicinal ingredient used in clinical practice as an anaesthetic agent. It should only be administered under medical supervision.

Adverse effects of etomidate include nausea and vomiting, muscle spasms, changes to breathing and blood pressure, as well as seizures and psychosis.

HSA said it identified and caught the person who sold the vape to the 13-year-old. One vape and three pods that were seized from the seller were also found to contain etomidate.

The 25-year-old seller and his 26-year-old wife are also assisting in the investigation.

Screenshot of a video on social media showing a man vaping on a train. (Image: HSA)

In a separate incident, HSA identified a 36-year-old man who was filmed vaping on an MRT train. A video of it was posted on social media on Apr 18.

HSA officers raided his residence and did not find any vapes, with the man claiming he had thrown his vape away. Investigations are ongoing.

The agency said that those who witness people using vapes can "voluntarily assist" HSA in its enforcement actions by submitting "clear, full-frontal photographs or videos" of offenders to [email protected].

Buying, possessing and using vapes are prohibited in Singapore. This includes purchases made online and from overseas.

Offenders can be fined up to S$2,000 (US$1,530).

If convicted, those possessing or using vape pods containing etomidate can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to S$10,000, or both.

People who have information on the illegal import, distribution or sale of vapes can contact the Tobacco Regulation Branch at 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during office hours.

 

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The agency said that those who witness people using vapes can "voluntarily assist" HSA in its enforcement actions by submitting "clear, full-frontal photographs or videos" of offenders to [email protected].

How much is the reward to do this?

I can go Changi Airport Departure Smoking zone to take pictures. So many papers there.

PAP got balls to catch all these foreigner vapers???

 

[True Believer]

Did it happen outside the kangaroo courts?

 

[bobby]

How cum never guess race?

I say mudd…

 

[WangChuk]

the 13yo kid will probably fork the court judges in their face outside the State Cork without consequences .... utmost send her to girls home after lots of red tapes.

even the 13yo parents can fork the judges big time .... just go to the GRC and look for MPs to quiet down the SPF and MHA .... win liao

 

[Sustanon]

Cigarette sales in Singapore going down drastically I see... increase cigarette prices somemore lah sibei song sibo? The higher the prices of cigarettes are, the more people are going to switch to vape. How many vapers can you catch? Let me be honest, not even a drop in the bucket. The article (whether is real or manufactured) is out to instill fear because the problem can no longer be contain. Legalize vape is the answer. It has reached a critical mass.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

This laced vapes are know as space oil on the streets

 

[True Believer]

This laced vapes are know as space oil on the streets

The sweet and appealing flavours used in vapes may be attractive to young people, hiding the dangers of the chemicals they are inhaling. There is a perception that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking which is inaccurate and may lead to teens trying both smoking and vaping.