A MALAYSIAN national alleged to be a central figure in Singapore’s illegal e-vaporiser trade has been in remand for nearly a year, facing multiple charges linked to cheating, obstruction of justice and the distribution of vapes.
Chua Wee Ming, 34, was arrested on Oct 10, 2024, following an islandwide operation by the police and Health Sciences Authority (HSA). Authorities accuse him of orchestrating the large-scale importation and distribution of vape products from Malaysia into Singapore as early as 2022.
His involvement was uncovered after a commercial unit in Sembawang was burgled. While the unit’s caretaker, Lim Zhi Wei, initially claimed IT gadgets were stolen, investigators discovered $470,000 worth of vapes had been taken.
Lim later admitted to helping pack, deliver and sell the products, and was fined $8,500. Court documents allege Chua was directly linked to the burglary and later used a Singaporean’s identity to rent a Woodlands warehouse for storage.
The Singaporean, saddled with $80,000 gambling debts, claimed Chua promised to help settle them in exchange for transporting vapes across the border. Chua is now facing trial, with authorities describing him as a “key syndicate figure” in the illicit vape trade.—Sept 14, 2025
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