A local vape syndicate allegedly ran deliveries for more than 3 years, taking instructions from a Malaysia-based leader known as "Nobody".
One of its Singaporean members, Roy Tan Jun Jie, pleaded guilty to being part of the group, shedding light on its inner workings:
https://cna.asia/4xsVEEW
Full Details: Vape Syndicate Case (Singapore, Aug 6 2026)
📌 Overview
- Operation period: Mid-2022 – Oct 16, 2025 (over 3 years)
- Leader: Known only as "Nobody", purportedly based in Malaysia
- Import source: Vapes/components imported from Malaysia
- Seized goods: >57,000 vapes & related items from 2 warehouses
- Daily deliveries: 105–210 orders/day (no Sundays)
- Defendant: Roy Tan Jun Jie, 34, Singaporean; pleaded guilty Aug 6, 2026
🔄 Syndicate Structure (3 Tiers)
1. Top: Local syndicate leaders → took orders directly from "Nobody"; managed warehouses, stock, finances, payments
2. Middle: Local distributors → received supplies, packed & sorted orders by postal code; earned S$4,000–S$8,000/month
3. Bottom: Area distributors (e.g. Roy Tan) → handled deliveries; paid S$10 per successful delivery
📦 Operations & Warehouses
- Started in Mandai Road
- Feb 2025: 1st warehouse → Canberra condominium unit
- Apr 2025: 2nd warehouse → Lentor terrace house
- Communication: WhatsApp (from "Nobody") + Telegram (internal chats, named by postal codes); all used pseudonyms
- Order handover: Block 605 Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 open-air car park, 1pm & 6pm daily
- Payment flow: Area distributors → kept cash, deducted daily pay → passed rest upward
🧑 Roy Tan’s Role & Background
- Joined Oct 2024 (introduced by friend; reported to Adrian Chia Hong Qing, 33)
- Assigned to postal codes starting with 3 & 4; used nickname "V"
- Delivered 15–30 orders/day; earned S$3,000–S$4,000/month, ~S$45,000 total
- Also promoted/took orders, earned commission
- Arrested Oct 16, 2025: 31 vapes + ~S$2,400 cash seized
- Estimated >10,000 items delivered in his time
Mitigation
- First offence; strong family/fiancée/employer/church support
- Mother died young; supported father financially; worked long hours as restaurant waiter before this job
- Had BTO flat, marriage plans put on hold
- Sought 6 months’ jail; prosecution seeks 10–11 months + S$45,000 fine
📈 Enforcement Context
- Vape possession/use cases: 1,266 (2020) → 4,916 (2022) → 9,680 (Jan–Sep 2025) → 2,589 (Jan–Mar 2026)
- Maximum penalties:
- Syndicate membership: 5 years jail / S$100,000 fine / both
- Possession for sale: 6 months jail / S$10,000 fine
- 11 men & 1 woman arrested Oct 16, 2025; others facing prosecution
- Case adjourned for sentencing