(Kuala Lumpur, 9th) From 2023 to June this year, 718.43 kilograms of suspected e-cigarettes or e-cigarette products containing prohibited substances—including synthetic drugs, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), mushroom extracts, and other psychoactive substances—were seized, 585 people arrested, and 400 cases solved.
Minister of Home Affairs Dato' Seri Saifuddin Nasution, in a written reply in Parliament to Maridana MP Dato' Wira Mas Ermieyati, said that enforcement agencies seized a total of 471.50 kilograms in 2023, with 66 people arrested and 32 cases solved; in 2024, the seized amount dropped to 62.68 kilograms, with 114 arrests and 92 cases.
"For 2025, 115.22 kilograms were seized, 138 people were arrested, and 108 cases were involved. As for this year up to May, 69.03 kilograms were seized, 267 people were arrested, involving 168 cases."
He stated that the government takes the issue of the spread of e-cigarettes adulterated with prohibited substances among youth and students seriously, and has strengthened cross-departmental joint special actions, focusing on cracking down on illegal activities at entertainment venues, vape shops, synthetic drug labs, and places where youths gather.
He said the police Narcotics Crime Investigation Department launched the "OP Vape 1.0" joint enforcement operation in April this year, conducting checks on 1,670 premises with participation from other government agencies, and found 728 in violation.
During the operation, a total of 8,091 vape devices, 5,257 vape pods, as well as 205.764 kilograms of vape materials and e-liquids (total value about RM4.59 million) were seized. Additionally, 19.67 kilograms of suspected drug-containing materials and e-liquids (estimated value about RM2.9 million) were seized.
He said authorities will further strengthen cyber intelligence and online monitoring, surveilling illegal sales activities on social media, messaging apps, and e-commerce platforms, while also improving forensic and laboratory analysis capacity to determine whether e-liquids contain synthetic drugs, novel psychoactive substances (NPS), synthetic class drugs, and new hallucinogenic substances.
Statistics of Cases Seizing E-cigarettes with Prohibited Substances from 2023 to 2026 (up to May)
2023: 471.50 kg seized, 66 people arrested, 32 cases
2024: 62.68 kg seized, 114 people arrested, 92 cases
2025: 115.22 kg seized, 138 people arrested, 108 cases
2026 (up to May): 69.03 kg seized, 267 people arrested, 168 cases
Total: 718.43 kg seized, 585 people arrested, 400 cases
2023: 471.50 kg seized, 66 people arrested, 32 cases
2024: 62.68 kg seized, 114 people arrested, 92 cases
2025: 115.22 kg seized, 138 people arrested, 108 cases
2026 (up to May): 69.03 kg seized, 267 people arrested, 168 cases
Total: 718.43 kg seized, 585 people arrested, 400 cases
April 2026 "OP Vape 1.0" Joint Enforcement Results
Premises inspected: 1,670
Premises in violation: 728
Violation rate: 43.59%
E-cigarette devices seized: 8,091
E-cigarette pods seized: 5,257
E-cigarette materials and e-liquids seized: 205.764 kg
Valuation above: RM4.59 million
Suspected drug-containing materials & e-liquids: 19.67 kg
Estimated value of drug-containing materials: RM2.9 million
Premises inspected: 1,670
Premises in violation: 728
Violation rate: 43.59%
E-cigarette devices seized: 8,091
E-cigarette pods seized: 5,257
E-cigarette materials and e-liquids seized: 205.764 kg
Valuation above: RM4.59 million
Suspected drug-containing materials & e-liquids: 19.67 kg
Estimated value of drug-containing materials: RM2.9 million
· The quantity seized in 2023 reached as high as 471.50 kg, accounting for 65.63% of the four-year total, indicating a greater number of major cases solved that year.
· In 2024, the weight seized dropped sharply to 62.68 kg (about 86.7% less than in 2023), but the number of cases rose to 92, indicating a shift in enforcement focus from large cases to more scattered ones.
· In 2025, the quantity seized rebounded to 115.22 kg and case numbers continued to increase to 108.
· In 2026, as of May, 168 cases have been solved and 267 people arrested, accounting for 42% of the four-year total cases and 46% of total arrests, reflecting significantly strengthened enforcement.
· The OP Vape 1.0 operation inspected 1,670 premises, with 728 in violation—a violation rate of about 43.6%, indicating that noncompliance in the e-cigarette market is still prevalent.
· During the operation, 19.67 kg of suspected drug-containing vape materials were also seized, valued at about RM2.9 million, showing that drug-laced e-cigarettes have become a key target for police crackdowns.
