BNN Chief Recommends Total Vape Ban: Narcotics Have Evolved
The head of Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto, has recommended a total ban on vapes. This follows the evolution of narcotics crime methods.
Suyudi said this was revealed after his agency intercepted the smuggling of 2.6 tonnes of liquid narcotics from a cargo ship in the waters of the Riau Islands (Kepri).
“This massive-scale liquid narcotics seizure is clear evidence that narcotics crime has evolved from solid form to liquid form in order to infiltrate people’s lifestyles through the use of vapes or e-cigarettes,” he said on Friday (21/8/2026).
Therefore, Suyudi said that strict and strong regulations are needed to keep pace with the evolving methods of narcotics crime. One of these is a total ban on vapes.
“In line with these facts, the state needs strict and strong regulations. Therefore, BNN firmly recommends a total ban on vapes to save and protect Indonesia’s golden generation from the threat of drug dangers,” he stated.
Regarding the seizure of 2.6 tonnes of liquid narcotics, Suyudi said investigations are still ongoing. The investigation covers distribution routes and funding sources.
“BNN, together with relevant agencies, will continue to investigate to uncover the owner of the goods, the network controller, distribution routes, funding sources, and the possible involvement of other international networks,” he added.
As previously reported, a joint team from BNN, Karimun Customs and Excise, and the Riau Islands Regional Police foiled the smuggling of 2.6 tonnes of liquid methamphetamine carried by the MV Ocean Porter in the waters of Tanjung Balai Karimun, Riau Islands. The liquid narcotics were intended to be used for drug vapes.
In this operation, BNN named 10 crew members, all Myanmar nationals, as suspects. The seizure successfully prevented the potential production of 2.8 million narcotic vape cartridges.
“This seizure is not merely a statistical figure, but the saving of human lives on a massive scale,” said Suyudi.
Suyudi explained that the 2.6 tonnes of liquid drugs could potentially produce 2.8 million vape cartridges. Based on this calculation, the case successfully prevented potential illicit drug sales worth Rp 8.5 trillion.
“If calculated in the form of derivative products — assuming the capacity of one vape cartridge is 2 millilitres, requiring a mixture of 1 millilitre of pure narcotics plus 1 millilitre of solvent and flavouring mixture — then this syndicate has great potential to produce 2,826,086 narcotic vape cartridges,” he explained.
“Assuming an illicit market price of Rp 8 million per cartridge, the total economic valuation or illicit fund flow that we have successfully dismantled reaches nearly Rp 8.5 trillion, or precisely Rp 8,478,258,000,000,” he concluded.