Skip to main content

Government officials will never ask you to transfer money or disclose bank log-in details over a phone call.

Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 if you are unsure if something is a scam.

Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB)
News

Amendments to the First Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act

28 August 2025

  1. Etomidate and its analogues will be listed in the First Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 (“MDA”) as Class C controlled drugs from 1 September 2025, for a period of six months. This will allow the Government to impose stiffer, more deterrent penalties for possession, use, importation and trafficking of etomidate-laced e-vaporisers, while the Ministry of Health develops new legislation to more effectively address this scourge.

  2. Under the MDA, offenders will face more severe penalties (please see Annex for the penalties). Individuals who are repeat abusers1 of etomidate can be subject to mandatory supervision, as well as rehabilitation and treatment in the Drug Rehabilitation Centre. Those who import, sell or distribute etomidate-laced e-vaporisers will face prosecution.

  3. To address the situation more comprehensively, in addition to etomidate, the listing will also include several analogues which have been detected in e-vaporisers in foreign jurisdictions. The full list of drugs to be listed in the First Schedule are:

    1. Butyl 1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (also known as butomidate) and its butyl structural isomers (namely isobutomidate, sec-butomidate and tert-butomidate)

    2. Etomidate

    3. Isopropyl 1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (also known as isopropoxate)

    4. Metomidate

    5. Propyl 1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (also known as propoxate)

    6. 2,2,2-Trifluoroethyl 1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (also known as trifluoro-etomidate or TF-etomidate)

1 First time etomidate e-vaporiser abusers will be given mandatory rehabilitation under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
28 August 2025

Annex

Penalties under the MDA

Offences and penalties under the MDA

Offence

Penalties

Trafficking in a Class C controlled drug

Minimum 2 years and 2 strokes
Maximum 10 years and 5 strokes

Importation/Exportation of a Class C controlled drug

Minimum 3 years and 5 strokes
Maximum 20 years and 15 strokes

Possession of a Class C controlled drug

Maximum 10 years or $20,000 or both

Consumption*

Minimum 1 year
Maximum 10 years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding $20,000

Trafficking of a Class C controlled drug to a young person or vulnerable person

Minimum 4 years and 4 strokes
Maximum 20 years and 15 strokes

Causing or procuring young person or vulnerable person to commit certain offences

Minimum 4 years and 4 strokes
Maximum 20 years and 15 strokes

Arranging or planning drug gatherings where a young person or vulnerable person is present

Minimum 5 years and 3 strokes
Maximum 20 years and 10 strokes

*Abusers who deny consumption or have concurrent offences may face prosecution in lieu of rehabilitation.

Back to top