Bareskrim Uncovers Drug Trafficking Network Using Ride-Hailing Services and Etomidate Vape Factory in East Jakarta
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Narcotics Crime Directorate of Bareskrim Polri has uncovered a drug trafficking network that exploited online motorcycle taxi (ojol) services while discovering a location suspected to be a clandestine laboratory for producing etomidate-containing vape cartridges in East Jakarta.
The revelation stemmed from a report by an ojol driver who grew suspicious of a package he was to deliver.
The package was subsequently examined using an X-ray at Police Headquarters and strongly suspected to contain narcotics.
“After checks and examinations by Subdit IV personnel, 13 (thirteen) black-coloured cartridge packages with the MAFIA logo, suspected to contain etomidate liquid, and 1 (one) clear package suspected to contain crystal methamphetamine were found,” stated the Director of Narcotics Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, in his statement on Thursday (16/4/2026).
Following this discovery, a joint team from Subdit IV of the Dittipidnarkoba Bareskrim Polri employed control delivery techniques and disguised themselves as ojol couriers to develop the case.
The operation led to the Pesanggrahan area in South Jakarta before narrowing down to East Jakarta.
Police then apprehended a suspect with initials AW (29) at a rented house in the Kayu Manis area, Matraman, in the early hours of Tuesday (14/4/2026).
From the interrogation, AW was identified as the controller of ojol couriers in the network.
He confessed to having carried out 37 drug shipments on the orders of a kingpin with initials FD, who is now on the wanted list (DPO).
Based on further developments, police raided an apartment unit in the Pulo Gadung area, East Jakarta, suspected to be FD’s operational base.
At the site, officers found various equipment indicating narcotics-infused vape cartridge production activities, including presses, pipettes, sample tubes, and a drug manufacturing guidebook.
Additionally, hundreds of vape packaging from various brands, empty cartridges, and liquids suspected to contain etomidate were discovered.
From the two raided locations, police seized various types of narcotics, including methamphetamine with a total net weight of about 148.16 grams, cannabis with a total net weight of about 23.28 grams, dozens of vape cartridges containing suspected etomidate liquid.
Furthermore, one ecstasy pill and various drug packaging equipment were found.
In executing their operations, suspect AW received drug packages and vape cartridges from the kingpin, stored them at the rented house, and then distributed them to customers.