SINGAPORE – An alleged key member of a syndicate dealing in e-vaporisers faces nine charges after he appeared in a district court on Oct 18. His case allegedly involved vaping-related products worth more than $6.5 million.

       Chua Wee Ming, 33 was arrested following an islandwide operation on Oct 10, the Singapore Police Force and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a joint statement.

       “Preliminary investigations indicate that he allegedly orchestrated the importation and distribution of e-vaporisers from Malaysia into Singapore and has been supplying to the local residents,” the statement added.

       Chua is accused of multiple offences, including cheating and performing an act that could obstruct the course of justice.

       On March 19, the Malaysian allegedly had in his possession multiple vaping-related products that were for sale.

       They included more than 350,000 pods and nearly 160,000 disposable vaporisers.

       Some time between March 23 and 26, he allegedly engaged in a conspiracy with three other men to commit housebreaking at a warehouse and steal vaping-related items worth more than $6 million.

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       Media reports in March stated that HSA had earlier seized the products. Details on the exact location of the warehouse cannot be disclosed due to a gag order.

       Chua’s three alleged accomplices are Malaysian Chee Wai Yuen, 36; and Singaporeans Elvin Suriaganandhan, 22, and Lim Zhi Wei, 39. They were each handed a housebreaking charge in March.

       On April 4, Chua allegedly performed an act that could obstruct the course of justice. He is said to have arranged for an unnamed driver to ferry Chee, who was out on bail, from Singapore to Malaysia.

       Court documents stated that the driver then allegedly transported Chee in a lorry to Johor Bahru the next day.

       The cases involving Chee, Lim and Elvin are still pending.

       Separately, on or around March 3, 2020, Chua allegedly worked with one Lim Kien Siong, 31, to cheat a man of $100,000 by claiming that they could deliver 400 boxes of face masks to him.

       On May 9, 2022, Chua allegedly worked with one Yeo Zhen Yi to commit housebreaking at a certain building to steal multiple items worth around $470,000 in total, and these included vaping-related ones.

       Some time between April and May 2023, Chua is said to have engaged in a conspiracy with one Toh Wee Leong to cheat a company.

       Chua is accused of directing Toh to pose as the genuine tenant of a certain warehouse to dupe the company into believing that the property would be used for an e-commerce business.

       As a result, the company allegedly delivered the keys to the warehouse to Toh.

       Court documents did not disclose the outcome of the cases involving Toh, Yeo and Lim Kien Siong.

       Chua’s case has been adjourned to Oct 25.