Commission III DPR Leaders Agree with BNN Head's Proposal to Ban Vapes

The Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Inspector General Suyudi Ario Seto, has proposed a ban on the circulation of vapes in Indonesia due to their potential misuse in relation to narcotics. Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the DPR, Ahmad Sahroni, agrees with Inspector General Suyudi’s proposal.

“I strongly agree a thousand percent with BNN Head Inspector General Suyudi’s proposal. This will destroy the nation if not addressed firmly,” Sahroni told reporters on Wednesday (8/4/2026).

Sahroni stated that vapes can be used as camouflage for narcotics. He mentioned that narcotics found in vapes have already been recorded.

“Because vapes are used as camouflage to inhale new types of narcotics, which are already listed, psychotropics being part of narcotics,” he said.

He urged that this vape ban be included in the Narcotics Bill. Currently, the Narcotics Bill is being discussed in Commission III of the DPR.

“As a leader of Commission III, I support including it in the Narcotics Bill,” he stated.

Previously, Suyudi proposed a ban on vape circulation in Indonesia. BNN highlighted findings of etomidate substance in vapes.

This was conveyed by Suyudi during a Working Meeting with Commission III of the DPR RI regarding the Bill on Narcotics and Psychotropics, at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (7/4). He revealed BNN’s findings on vape liquid samples.

“Currently, we are faced with the phenomenon of massive circulation of narcotic substances in the form of vapes or electronic cigarettes. Based on laboratory tests by BNN’s central laboratory on 341 vape liquid samples, we found very shocking facts,” Suyudi said during the meeting.

He stated that 11 samples contained cannabinoids or cannabis, up to one sample containing methamphetamine or sabu. He mentioned that BNN also found etomidate, an anaesthetic drug, in the tested vape samples.

He said narcotics are developing very rapidly. He noted that 175 types of new psychoactive substances (NPS) have already been identified in Indonesia.

“With the facts above, it is a great hope for BNN that a vape ban can be implemented in Indonesia, because vapes have proven to be misused as a medium to be filled with etomidate,” Suyudi stated.

“We view that if vapes as this medium are banned, the circulation of etomidate can also be significantly addressed, similar to sabu which always requires a bong as a medium for consumption,” he added.