SINGAPORE — A 36-year-old man was fined S$13,700 on Thursday (Nov 23) after hundreds of vapes and pods were found at his workplace at a Harvey Norman outlet in West Mall shopping centre.

Marcus Chen Jun Ming admitted that he had made about S$10,000 from selling such items.

On Jan 20, Health Sciences Authority (HSA) officers mounted an operation at a Harvey Norman outlet in West Mall shopping centre after receiving a tip-off about the sale of vapes to students in the area.

“The peddler was operating from his workplace at the mall and had stored the prohibited items there as well as at his residence,” HSA said in January.

Chen was arrested during the operation, with 75 boxes containing three pods each and 110 vapes found at the store. Some of the pods were found in his locker at the store.

At about 8pm on the same day, HSA officers searched his home and found 251 boxes of pods and 409 vapes.

Chen admitted to owning all the items, while claiming that some were for his personal use.

CNA has contacted Harvey Norman for more information. 

Those convicted of importing, distributing, selling or offering to sell imitation tobacco products face a fine of up to S$10,000, up to six months in prison, or both for their first offence.

Those convicted of a second or subsequent offence face a fine of up to S$20,000, up to 12 months in prison, or both.

It is also an offence to purchase, use and possess such products, with each offence punishable by a fine of up to S$2,000. Any prohibited tobacco items will also be seized and confiscated. CNA