KPods are everywhere in conversations these days, showing up in mainstream media, social media feeds, group chats, and classrooms. Recent reports show that enforcement efforts are being stepped up across Singapore.
Checks are being conducted at borders and in popular areas such as the CBD. Schools, workplaces, and even the SAF and HomeTeam have also stepped up to increase inspections for vapes and report vaping activities to the authorities.
Videos showing people stumbling, walking like zombies, or even collapsing, allegedly after using KPods, have been circulating widely online and grabbing the attention of concerned parents and members of the public. What started as a vaping trend has quickly become a serious concern that is impossible to ignore.
What are KPods and Why are they Dangerous?
KPods are small, pocket-sized, disposable vape pods that may look like regular vaping devices, but they are often laced with dangerous substances such as ketamine, synthetic cannabis, or etomidate, a powerful anaesthetic normally used in medical or aesthetic treatments.
Despite their tiny size, KPods are far from harmless. Their compact design, bright colours, and variety of flavours make them particularly appealing to teens and young adults, which is part of the problem. Many people underestimate just how dangerous these tiny pods can be.
Even a single use can affect the heart, brain, and nervous system, causing dizziness, confusion, hallucination and/or loss of coordination. Repeated use can lead to addiction and long-term health issues.
In an interview in July 2025, Singapore’s Minister for Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung, revealed that approximately one in three vapes seized during recent enforcement operations and tested at random was found to contain etomidate.
Etomidate was designed to be injected directly into the veins under clinical supervision for anaesthetic purposes. The substance was never meant to be inhaled directly into the lungs. He also confirmed that there have been several deaths linked to abuse of etomidate, highlighting the serious risks these tiny pods pose and the urgency for awareness, regulation, and caution among users, parents, and educators.
The Law before 1 September 2025
Before 1 September 2025, etomidate was classified as a poison and regulated under the Poisons Act 1938. Under this law, anyone found in possession, using, or trafficking etomidate could face a maximum penalty of two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
Read more: Drug Offences in Singapore
Classification of Etomidate in Misuse of Drugs Act from 1 September 2025 onwards
From 1 September 2025, etomidate will be classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 in response to growing societal concerns. Under the new classification, anyone caught possessing or using the substance illegally may face up to 10 years in jail and a $20,000 fine.
Those involved in trafficking Class C drugs may also face up to 10 years in jail and five strokes of the cane.
The Misuse of Drugs Act also provides for supervision and mandatory rehabilitation for addicts. Anyone admitted to a rehabilitation centre must remain there for 12 months, unless discharged earlier, to ensure proper treatment and reduce the risk of relapse.
In August 2025, the State Courts sentenced a man to 16 months in prison for producing vape pods laced with etomidate. The court highlighted the importance of deterrence in cases involving this substance, pointing out the severe risks of etomidate abuse.
The drug had been detected in several unnatural death cases, including a fatal traffic accident, underscoring its potential to cause serious harm. With the Misuse of Drugs Act amendments coming into effect on 1 September 2025, it will be interesting to see how courts apply the stricter penalties in future cases.
Read More: Criminal Law – Statutory offences – Misuse of Drugs Act
