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SINGAPORE \u2013 A South Korean man was arrested at Changi Airport on March 27 after the authorities foiled his attempt to smuggle heat sticks, vaporisers and related components into Singapore.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old South Korean national was directed for further checks after he told Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) baggage officers at Changi Airport Terminal 2 that he had no items to declare, ICA said in a Facebook post on April 6. <\/p>\n
Officers detected anomalies during a scan and carried out a thorough search of the man\u2019s belongings, uncovering more than 2,000 heat sticks \u2013 battery-operated devices that heat rather than burn tobacco \u2013 and over 130 vapes and related components, ICA said.<\/p>\n
The man was arrested and the case has been referred to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for further investigation.<\/p>\n
The Straits Times has contacted the HSA for more information.<\/p>\n
Between March 24 and March 27, a total of <\/span><\/a>42<\/span><\/a> travellers were found with vapes and <\/span><\/a>more than 240<\/span><\/a> vapes and related components were seized<\/span><\/a> across Singapore\u2019s checkpoints, ICA said on March 29. <\/p>\n Just over half (52 per cent) of the cases involved short-term visitors and 48 per cent were Singapore residents, ICA added. Singapore residents comprise citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders.<\/p>\n ICA has underscored that vaping is illegal in the Republic and that foreigners who visit or reside in Singapore must abide by the country\u2019s laws.<\/p>\n Short-term visitors will be banned from re-entering Singapore if they are caught committing a vaping offence more than once. <\/p>\n Foreigners on long-term passes risk having their passes revoked on a third offence, as well as\u00a0being deported and banned from re-entering Singapore.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n