International Customs Restricted Medication, Vape & Drone Checker

Japan’s Stimulants Control Law & UAE’s MOHAP Portal Explained

• In Japan, Amphetamine (Adderall) is strictly prohibited under the Stimulants Control Law—there is no medical exemption or import permit available, and tourists have been arrested at Narita and Haneda for carrying their own prescribed pills.
• Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) and opioid painkillers require a Narcotics Import Permit, while >1 month of standard medications or >2.16g total of Methylphenidate (Concerta/Ritalin) requires a Yunyu Kakunin-sho certificate.
• In the United Arab Emirates, travelers carrying ADHD meds, anxiety tablets (Xanax/Valium), or codeine/tramadol should apply online via the free UAE MOHAP Controlled Medicine portal before flying.

The Southeast Asian Vape Ban & North African Drone X-Ray Trap

• Singapore (S$2,000 fine), Thailand (up to 30,000 THB fine), Cambodia, and India ban the importation of e-cigarettes and vapes regardless of whether they contain nicotine.
• Morocco, Egypt, Cuba, and Nicaragua run 100% of arriving carry-on and checked bags through customs X-ray machines just before the exit doors specifically looking for camera drones.
• Sub-250g drones like the DJI Mini 4 Pro are NOT exempt from customs import bans in Morocco, Egypt, or India—weight exemptions only apply to aviation registration in countries where drones are already legal.

Can I bring my prescribed Adderall to Japan if I keep it in the original pharmacy bottle with a doctor’s note?

No. Amphetamine (Adderall) is unconditionally banned under Japan’s Stimulants Control Law. Even a valid US prescription and doctor’s letter will not protect you from arrest and detention at Japanese customs. Speak with your physician well in advance about switching to an approved alternative (such as Concerta under the 2.16g threshold or Vyvanse with an approved Narcotics Import Permit).

Are DJI Mini (<250g) drones exempt from customs confiscation in Morocco or Egypt?

No. The 249-gram threshold is an aviation safety weight class used in the US, EU, and UK—it means nothing to customs officers in Morocco, Egypt, or Cuba, where any flying camera is treated as restricted reconnaissance hardware.

What happens if customs finds a vape in my bag in Singapore or Thailand?

At Singapore Changi Airport, declaring a vape at the Red Channel typically results in disposal without prosecution, whereas being caught in the Green Channel results in immediate confiscation and an on-the-spot composition fine of S$500 to S$2,000. In Thailand, street police routinely fine tourists 5,000 to 30,000 THB for holding a vape in public.

How far in advance should I apply for Japan’s Yunyu Kakunin-sho or Singapore’s HSA medication permit?

Submit your online application at least 14 calendar days (10 working days) before your departure flight. Both agencies review scanned doctor prescriptions and flight itineraries before emailing back an official PDF certificate to print and show at the customs Red Channel.