Even with a big crackdown on vapes in Singapore, shops across the border in Johor Bahru say most of their customers are still from Singapore. Some of these retailers are even helping people get the devices across the Causeway.
Many vape businesses in Johor Bahru told CNA that Singaporeans make up the majority of their customers. One shop owner estimated that 95% of their buyers are from Singapore. Another shop owner said, “Just yesterday I had a Singaporean customer who bought four vapes… He just brought it back with him.”
These businesses are often located in areas popular with Singaporeans, such as around KSL City Mall. Even though vaping is technically banned in Johor, these shops sell their vape products alongside other items like wallets, bags, and phone accessories to stay discreet.
A seller pointed out a list of flavors, including “mineral water, iced lychee, juicy grape and tieguanyin tea,” and noted that disposable vapes are the most popular choice for Singaporeans because they’re affordable. To be extra careful, some of the bigger, standalone vape shops have tinted windows or locked front doors, with their main products hidden behind a curtain in a backroom.
With Singapore’s stricter rules now in place, some Johor Bahru retailers are giving customers tips on how to avoid getting caught. They’re also providing plain packaging, like simple black plastic bags or large white envelopes, to hide the purchases.
However, not all sellers are willing to take the risk. A few told CNA they’ve stopped doing cross-border deliveries because of the harsher punishments that started on September 1. One business owner mentioned that his drivers are too scared to go into Singapore now. “My customers all want the goods, but my drivers all dare not go in,” he said, adding that “Last time we used to bring them (vapes) over on motorcycles and cars. Now it’s so strict, no one dares to do it.”
Despite the danger, a handful of sellers are still willing to deliver vapes to Singapore for a higher fee. They noted that vapes can sell for three times more on Singapore’s black market than in Johor Bahru. One seller said, “If you want others to bring it across for you… You will definitely have to pay more, because they are taking a huge risk to bring it in for you.”
Experts are concerned that the ban might push people to look for cheaper, unregulated products from illegal dealers. Associate Professor Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim from the Singapore University of Social Sciences said, “This is risky because the products are unregulated, the quality is uncertain, and users are drawn closer to networks that also trade in other illicit substances.”
There’s also a worry that once people connect with illegal dealers, they could be exposed to harder drugs. Dr Jimmy Lee, from the National Council Against Drug Abuse, pointed out that vaping “normalises addictive behaviour, which may increase vulnerability to substance abuse.”
In Singapore, anyone caught with vapes faces fines and has their devices taken away. Repeat offenders can face more serious consequences, including fines of up to S$2,000 and even being banned from re-entering the country.
