Mohammed Akil Abdul Rahim, a 41-year-old man, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the production and sale of etomidate-laced vape pods, marking the first court conviction connected to Kpods.
Akil was caught in his Yishun flat in December 2024 with 26.4 grams of a white powder containing enough etomidate to produce over 70 Kpods.
According to news reports, Akil’s involvement began after he met a man known only as “Joe” at a Johor shopping mall in October 2024.
“Joe” offered him a job to prepare vape pods laced with etomidate, a regulated drug under the Poisons Act, which has clinical use only in medical settings under strict conditions.
“Joe” would arrange for supplies—including bottles of “e-liquid,” empty pod casings, pod covers, and etomidate powder—to be sent to Akil’s home via courier.
Akil, who lived with his mother, would mix the etomidate powder with “e-liquid” and fill the empty pods, which were then stored at his flat for future orders.
Customers contacted him directly through “Joe,” who shared Akil’s mobile number. Akil was paid $10 per pod, receiving payments either in Johor or via a delivery person.
Despite knowing that vaping products are illegal in Singapore, Akil agreed to participate in this scheme. His participation was revealed after he received a WhatsApp message from a contact called “Beast,” who ordered 100 pods.
Akil prepared the pods and left them outside his residence for collection. He then contacted the authorities after noticing the package contained vape-related items.
On the morning of December 11, 2024, HSA officers raided Akil’s flat and found 569 empty pod casings, 534 pod components, 1,485 pod covers, along with a bag containing etomidate powder, syringes, and a weighing scale.
Akil admitted that “Joe” taught him to scoop approximately 15ml of etomidate powder and mix it with 50ml of “e-liquid,” injecting about 1.5ml of the mixture into each pod, the report added.
Akil also surrendered his passport but later attempted to leave Singapore for Malaysia without it, claiming he left his travel documents at a coffee shop. He later obtained a new passport and traveled overseas multiple times before being apprehended.
In January 2025, he falsely claimed to immigration authorities that he had left his passport and ID card at a coffee shop; only the ID was returned.
The prosecutor, Yang Ziliang, urged the court to sentence Akil to up to 1 year and 3 months’ jail, citing the increasing use of etomidate-laced vapes among youths. He pointed to recent cases involving minors, including a 13-year-old girl vaping near the courts and two 16-year-old boys caught with etomidate in their pods during raids, emphasizing the urgent need to cut off supply.
According to Channel News Asia, speaking via videolink, Mohammed Akil, who was unrepresented, expressed remorse for the offences.
“This is all due to my mental pressure and also financial devastation. I know this is really, really wrong … (it was) to put food on the table for my kids at that time,” he stated.
He informed the court that he previously owned a business where he served as the main contractor for a “big local logistics company” with a high income.
“Only that this downfall really hit me hard,” he remarked.
“I truly regret my actions. I remained crime-free for nearly a decade since my last major incarceration for drug offences,” he added.
Mohammed Akil has a history of being sent to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre for methamphetamine use and has been convicted of disorderly behaviour, among other offences.
Appealing for compassion and leniency, Mohammed Akil said he wished to complete his sentence “quickly” and “return to” his life to care for his two young children.
“A lengthy sentence would not be fair to them because I am the one (who committed) the wrong, and they are the ones feeling the impact,” he stated. His sentencing has been postponed to August 26.
For selling a poison without a licence, Mohammed Akil could face up to two years in jail, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.
For possessing imitation tobacco products for sale, he could be imprisoned for up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both, on a first conviction.
For making false statements in connection with a passport application, he could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.
The authorities continue to strengthen enforcement against such offences, urging the public to report vaping-related crimes via the HSA hotline or online.
To report vaping-related offences, call the HSA hotline on 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 from 9am to 9pm daily, including public holidays. Reports can also be made online at www.go.gov.sg/reportvape
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