Incident adds urgency to Singapore’s crackdown on drug-laced vapes and rising youth abuse cases
A youth was filmed stumbling and later collapsing at Serangoon MRT station on Aug. 13, with eyewitnesses claiming he had been puffing out white smoke moments earlier. The incident has intensified concerns over Kpods, etomidate-laced vapes that have emerged as a dangerous trend among youths in Singapore.
Incident at Serangoon MRT
The youth was seen on video staggering along a travelator before collapsing onto the ground at the transfer passage between the Circle Line and North East Line around 4:40 p.m. Eyewitnesses told 8world News they saw him exhaling white smoke before losing his balance.
Clips circulating online showed him lying on the floor, shaking slightly and crossing his arms as bewildered commuters walked past. Two passersby checked on him, and he was heard replying “okay” as he tried to sit up.
Suspected Kpod Use
Onlookers speculated that the youth had consumed “Kpods,” slang for etomidate-laced e-vaporisers. In recent months, videos of users behaving like “zombies” after inhaling Kpods have gone viral, raising alarms about their effects.
Etomidate, a drug usually used in anaesthesia, is listed as a poison under the Poisons Act. When inhaled, it can cause spasms, mood swings, psychiatric symptoms, altered consciousness, and in some cases, impulsive or violent behavior.
Growing Crackdown on Vaping
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has warned that vaping, particularly with drug-laced pods, is a growing public health crisis. Between January and May 2025, 21 unnatural deaths in Singapore were linked to etomidate, including eight victims under the age of 30.
Authorities are tightening enforcement. On Aug. 18, SMRT said station staff have been stepping up checks and will report offenders caught vaping. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) added that offenders may be removed from stations and reported to the police.
From Public Transport to Policy Response
The Serangoon incident echoes a case earlier this month when a 17-year-old was caught vaping on an MRT train. HSA later confirmed he was assisting in investigations.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced during the 2025 National Day Rally that Singapore will now treat vaping as a “drug issue.” This means stiffer penalties, including jail terms and caning, especially for those selling or manufacturing Kpods.
On Aug. 13, just hours before the Serangoon MRT collapse, a 41-year-old man in Yishun became the first person convicted of manufacturing Kpods in Singapore. Prosecutors are seeking up to 15 months in prison.
What Singapore Is Doing
To curb abuse, the government has rolled out vape disposal bins to allow users to discard devices anonymously, and etomidate will soon be classified as a Class C controlled drug. The move aligns with Singapore’s zero-tolerance stance toward emerging synthetic drug threats.
The Serangoon MRT incident highlights both the dangers of Kpods and the urgency of Singapore’s new hardline measures against vaping. With rising cases among youths and links to multiple deaths, the government is escalating enforcement and legislative action to keep such substances off the streets and public transport.
Sources: Mothership (2025) , Must Share News (2025)
Keywords: Serangoon MRT, Youth Vaping, Kpods, Etomidate Vape, Singapore Crackdown
