BNN Chief: Vapes Become New Medium for Drug Consumption

The National Narcotics Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BNN RI) has stated that electronic cigarettes, or vapes, serving as a gateway for narcotics is an undeniable fact.

“We have found undeniable evidence that vapes have become an effective means — a new medium — for consuming narcotics and new psychoactive substances (NPS),” said BNN RI Chief Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto in his opening address at a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) at the BNN RI building in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Based on BNN’s findings, Suyudi asserted that the narrative of vapes as a smoking cessation tool is an illusion that has not been scientifically proven. In practice, vapes have instead become a new entry point for drug use.

“I wish to emphasise here that the narrative of vapes as a smoking cessation aid is an illusion that has not been proven effective scientifically. On the contrary, these products have in fact opened a new gateway,” he stated.

Suyudi also explained that the contents of vapes cannot be immediately identified when in use, including the fragrant vapour emitted by the devices.

“They can use them anywhere — and they smell pleasant, too. So people have no idea that the contents are actually narcotics,” he said.

According to Suyudi, electronic cigarettes have become the ideal means of concealment, transforming from conventional tools such as the use of methamphetamine in bongs.

“These are chemical substances, liquids. So the vape is the most suitable device for users to hide behind, as opposed to conventional tools like bongs,” he said.

Suyudi noted that vape cartridges have frequently been found to contain addictive substances including liquid methamphetamine, etomidate, and other new types of narcotics.

“This is the problem. It appears as though someone is simply using a vape, seemingly smoking an electronic cigarette, but the contents turn out to be liquid methamphetamine. The contents are etomidate, chemical substances classified as narcotics,” he explained.

Suyudi further explained that vape liquid, or e-liquid, contains narcotics classified under schedules one and two, comprising nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, and a number of addictive substances forming a chemical cocktail.

“From a chemical substance perspective, vape liquid or e-liquid is a chemical cocktail. It contains nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, vegetable compounds, as well as flavouring agents such as diacetyl, acetyl pyridine, and benzaldehyde, which pose significant new health risks,” he said.