Australian National Named Suspect in Cannabis-Laced Vape Liquid Case
North Lombok Police have named an Australian national, identified by the initials BC, as a suspect in an alleged narcotics abuse case after discovering the use of electronic cigarettes containing liquid with cannabis plant extract.
“BC has been named a suspect and has been detained at the North Lombok Police Detention Centre,” stated the Head of the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Unit of North Lombok Police, AKP I Nyamen Diana Mahardika, in Gangga District, North Lombok, on Wednesday. He added that the designation of the suspect and subsequent detention are part of the ongoing legal process currently in the investigation stage.
He explained that the use of electronic cigarettes or vapes containing natural compounds from cannabis plant extract constitutes narcotics abuse, violating Article 127 of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics and/or Article 609 paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code (KUHP). “The possession or abuse of Class I narcotics, in this case, vape liquid containing such substances, is an unlawful act; therefore, we are proceeding with the case in accordance with statutory provisions,” he said.
According to Nyoman Diana, the information was received during the final week of May 2024. The package was sent from Australia via PT Pos Indonesia. Following this information, the police coordinated with PT Pos Indonesia to monitor the delivery process.
Investigations revealed that the package was not destined for Gili Trawangan, but was instead diverted to a residential area in Batulayar, West Lombok Regency, where the suspect, BC, resides. “It turned out that this item was not sent directly to Gili Trawangan, but was redirected to the Batulayar area, to a residence occupied by the Australian national BC,” he said.
After the package was received, police opened the shipment in the presence of witnesses from the local community and village officials. The inspection uncovered five boxes of vape liquid under two different brands. The product packaging explicitly listed the presence of cannabidiol, a compound derived from cannabis plant extract.
“There were three pink boxes and two blue boxes. Upon inspection, the packaging stated they contained compounds from cannabis plant extract,” Nyoman Diana noted. Police subsequently searched the suspect’s residence and found two empty boxes of the same brand, along with the vaping device used by BC. “The black empty boxes, there were two. The suspect admitted the contents had been used. The vape device used by BC has also been seized,” he concluded.