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Tag: narcotics

  • Indonesia Proposes Vape Ban Over Narcotics Concerns

    Indonesia Proposes Vape Ban Over Narcotics Concerns

    Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN) proposed a nationwide ban on electronic cigarettes and vape liquids as part of revisions to the country’s narcotics and psychotropic substances bill, citing evidence that vaping devices are being used to distribute illicit drugs. BNN chief Suyudi Ario Seto told lawmakers that lab tests on 341 vape liquid samples found synthetic cannabinoids in 11 samples, methamphetamine in one, and etomidate in 23. He said existing health regulations carry lighter penalties, limiting enforcement effectiveness.

    Seto noted that several ASEAN countries — including Singapore and Thailand — already prohibit vapes, arguing that banning the devices in Indonesia would help curb the spread of new psychoactive substances, 175 of which are already present in the country.

  • Indonesia Sounds Alarm on Drug-Laced Vapes

    Indonesia Sounds Alarm on Drug-Laced Vapes

    On December 16, Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN) warned of the growing circulation of drug-laced vape cartridges containing the anesthetic etomidate, following a major seizure at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Authorities intercepted 8,500 illicit vape refill cartridges smuggled through air cargo routes on November 12 and arrested a distributor in a joint operation by BNN and the National Police.

    BNN said etomidate, now classified as a Schedule II narcotic, poses serious health risks when inhaled through vaping due to the lack of dosage control. Officials warned that repeated use can lead to dependency. BNN cited national data showing 1.73% of Indonesia’s population (about 3.3 million people) have been exposed to drugs, and claimed that the country’s estimated 70 million smokers increase vulnerability to drug-laced vape products.

  • Thailand Finding Rise of Narcotic-Laced Vapes

    Thailand Finding Rise of Narcotic-Laced Vapes

    Thailand’s Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) warned that e-cigarettes are increasingly being laced with etomidate, a short-acting anesthetic that poses serious risks to the brain, respiratory system, and other vital organs. Tests conducted between October 2024 and June 2025 found etomidate in 56 of 83 e-cigarette and equipment samples. The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified etomidate as a Special Controlled Drug before elevating it to a Schedule 2 Psychotropic Substance on July 27, to enforce stricter importation and usage rules. Despite this, the anesthetic has been detected in e-cigarettes produced in Asia and in smuggled e-liquids entering Thailand.

    Reports indicate that etomidate is being mixed with or substituted for nicotine in modified e-cigarettes known as “Zombie Cigarettes” or “Pot K.” The DMS has developed a testing method to detect the substance, which will aid police in drug suppression efforts. Authorities have also found e-cigarettes laced with narcotics such as cocaine and fentanyl, raising concerns about increased fatality risks among users.