Teenager Charged with Selling and Possessing Vapes in Singapore

In Singapore, a teenager has been charged in connection with selling and possessing vaping products. Albee Chai Buo Yin, aged 19, received three charges on July 22 under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act for her role in advertising electronic cigarettes, selling vapes, and possessing them.

The charges specify that Chai sold a trio of disposable vapes to an individual identified only as Javier through WhatsApp on August 3, 2024. Furthermore, she is accused of posting a photo that advertised imitation tobacco products, showcasing a range of Lana e-cigarettes on WhatsApp on October 22 of the previous year. Authorities discovered six disposable vapes and one pod-based vape in her possession on December 19 at her residence on Jurong West Street 91.

When asked to express her plea regarding the charges, Chai indicated she would plead guilty, with a court date scheduled for her to do so in August. Should she be found guilty of the charges related to selling or advertising vapes, she could face a maximum prison sentence of six months and a fine of up to S$10,000, or both. If convicted solely for possession of vapes intended for personal use, she may incur a fine of up to S$2,000. This case is part of increased enforcement measures by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) aimed at curbing vaping violations, particularly among students—evidenced by the more than 2,500 reports of vaping incidents made in the first half of 2025 alone. The HSA recently introduced an online reporting form for illegal vaping activities.