APVI Responds to Claims That Vapes Serve as Gateway for New Types of Narcotics

The Indonesian Personal Vaporiser Association (APVI) has spoken out regarding a statement by the National Narcotics Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BNN RI) claiming that vapes have become a gateway for new types of narcotics. APVI considers the statement unwise and argues it must be viewed more objectively.

“We support the government’s and BNN’s efforts to eradicate narcotics. But in my view, policy must be proportionate. The focus should be on illegal actors, not pointing the finger at an entire legal industry that already complies with regulations,” said APVI Chairman Budiyanto, as quoted from the APVI official Instagram account on Thursday (19/2/2026).

Budiyanto stated that narcotics eradication should be carried out by taking firm action against criminal perpetrators, rather than making the legal industry a victim. This is particularly pertinent as Indonesia’s e-cigarette industry is currently experiencing robust growth.

“The real problem lies in illegal practices, not in vape devices themselves. The appropriate solution, in our view, is strict supervision and firm enforcement against criminal actors without making the legal industry a casualty,” he explained.

“The electronic cigarette industry now involves thousands of business operators, employs hundreds of thousands of workers, and contributes trillions of rupiah to the state. Therefore, wise policy must strike a balance between cracking down on narcotics abuse and protecting employment and a healthy economy,” he added.

A similar view was expressed by APVI’s Head of Public Relations, Publications and Media, Filusif Faruq Vernanda. He urged the government not to tar all vapes with the same brush as a new means of narcotics entry.

He argued that those who abuse narcotics will always find new ways to consume and distribute prohibited substances.

“APVI calls on the government not to automatically lump all vapes together as a new vehicle for new types of narcotics. Those who abuse narcotics will always find new loopholes — there must be a distinction between the intermediary and the source of the problem,” he explained.

To that end, he hoped the government would focus more on investigating the entry of prohibited substances rather than cornering the e-cigarette industry.

“We hope the government and BNN will focus more on investigating the entry of these prohibited substances rather than cornering vapes, which have proven to be merely one of many tools that can be misused for narcotics. Just because there is a rat in the granary does not mean you should burn the whole granary down — that is not wise,” he concluded.