Associations support government crackdown on drug distribution via vapes
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Personal Vaporizer Association (APVI) has voiced support for the government’s move to take firm action against anyone who misuses electronic cigarettes or vapes as a medium for circulating narcotics.
“Such actions are criminal acts and must be processed in accordance with the prevailing law,” said APVI Chairman General Budiyanto in a statement issued in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Budiyanto added that the misuse of vapes for narcotics also harms the legal industry by creating a negative stigma around products that circulate legitimately. In fact, legal products do not contain prohibited substances.
Violations committed by certain criminal elements circulating illegal vapes must not be used as the basis for assessing or formulating policy towards the entire electronic cigarette industry.
“We hope that going forward there will be no generalisation. Illegal products containing narcotics are criminal acts, so the handling must target those criminals, not become a reason to restrict or ban a legal industry that has all along complied with all government regulations,” said Budiyanto.
He further stated that APVI is ready to play an active role in preventing the misuse of vape devices for narcotics distribution through closer collaboration with various stakeholders.
“We are ready to help educate the public on the difference between legal and illegal products, develop industry compliance standards, share information on the distribution patterns of illegal products found in the field, and support various programmes to prevent the misuse of vape devices for narcotics circulation,” he said.
A similar view was expressed by the Chairman of the Indonesian E-Liquid Producers Association (PPEI), Daniel Boy Purwanto, who stated that the misuse of vapes as a medium for consuming narcotics is a criminal act that has no connection whatsoever with the electronic cigarette industry, which operates legally and in compliance with regulations.
Daniel also said PPEI is ready to collaborate with the government in preventing the misuse of vape devices for narcotics distribution.
According to him, PPEI can play a role through educating businesses on the importance of regulatory compliance, informing the public on how to distinguish legal from illegal products, and supporting the government in identifying signs of abuse in the field.
“We are also open to discussing with the government more effective oversight mechanisms so that the circulation of illegal products can be suppressed without hindering the sustainability of businesses that comply with the rules,” said Daniel.
“If that is the case, I order that there be no hesitation in imposing a total ban on vapes in Indonesia,” said President Prabowo Subianto, in remarks read out by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago, at the commemoration of the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Bogor Regency, West Java, on Thursday (23/7).
Prabowo stressed that the safety of the people is the highest law in this country, commonly expressed by the phrase salus populi suprema lex esto.
Accordingly, the President instructed the Head of the National Narcotics Agency, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Trade, the Minister of Law, the Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency, and the Director General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance to convene together within a short timeframe.
It was stated that this step must be taken in order to formulate and strictly re-regulate the governance of the vape trade in Indonesia.