Singapore Man Jailed, Fined for Distributing Malaysian Vapes

Roy Tan Jun Jie, a 34-year-old Singaporean, has been sentenced to 10 months in jail and fined S$45,000 for his involvement in a syndicate that distributed electronic vaporisers imported from Malaysia. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six weeks of imprisonment.

Tan pleaded guilty to charges of being a member of a locally linked organized criminal group and possessing imitation tobacco products for sale. He was introduced to the operation by a friend in October 2024 and took on the role of an area distributor, earning between S$3,000 and S$4,000 monthly. He estimates his total earnings from the syndicate to be around S$45,000.

The syndicate operated from mid-2022 to October 16, 2025, receiving instructions from an individual known as "Nobody" based in Malaysia. Operations were managed from various locations in Singapore, including warehouses in Mandai Road, Canberra, and Lentor. Local syndicate leaders coordinated the import and distribution of vapes and components.

Area distributors like Tan were responsible for delivering packed orders, often using their personal vehicles, and reporting delivery failures. They earned S$10 per successful delivery, deducting their daily earnings before remitting the rest to local distributors. Deliveries were typically coordinated at an open-air car park in Ang Mo Kio.

The operation came to a halt on October 16, 2025, when authorities conducted a sweep, arresting Tan and others. Seizures included over 57,000 vapes and related components from the syndicate's warehouses. Prosecutors sought a jail term of 10 to 11 months and the S$45,000 fine, highlighting the "scourge of vaporisers" and the syndicate's complex structure. Tan's defense lawyers argued for a lesser sentence, emphasizing his low-ranking position with minimal control within the group.