Criminal Investigation Unit Asks BPOM to Ease Regulations on Procurement of Etomidate Vape Test Kits
Kombes Zulkarnain Harahap, Head of Sub-Directorate III of the Narcotics Crime Directorate at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), has spoken about the obstacles facing enforcement action against users of the active substance etomidate. He noted that there is currently no rapid testing device available to detect the substance in users’ bodies.
“Enforcement continues to this day. However, there remains one issue — no institution has yet produced a test kit for it,” Zulkarnain said during a focus group discussion on Electronic Cigarette (Vape) Regulation and Restriction of Dinitrogen Oxide (Whip Pink) Use at the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) headquarters in East Jakarta on Wednesday (18 February 2026).
He explained that police can only take action if a suspect is found in possession of physical evidence in the form of vape products containing etomidate, but cannot trace users of the active substance.
“If someone has already used it but is not holding any physical evidence, we cannot take action. Because there is no test kit, no urine test available, we cannot carry out tracing,” Zulkarnain explained.
As a result, his office has submitted a formal request to the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to ease regulations related to the procurement of raw materials and the production of testing devices to detect etomidate content. This follows the widespread circulation of vape liquids mixed with the anaesthetic substance etomidate.
“We are requesting that BPOM facilitate research institutions or parties that wish to produce and assist in the provision of materials, issue permits for imports, so that the manufacture of test kits in Indonesia can be made easier,” Zulkarnain concluded.
Surge in Etomidate Vape Users
Meanwhile, Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Komjen Suyudi Ario Seto said the trend of e-cigarette or vape use in Indonesia has experienced a sharp surge, with the highest prevalence among teenagers aged 15 to 19.
Suyudi cited the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in 2021 and released by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“Based on the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) of 2021, released by the Ministry of Health and WHO, there was a tenfold surge in the prevalence of e-cigarette users in Indonesia,” Suyudi said.
Suyudi noted that in 2011, the figure for vape users stood at 0.3 per cent, which by 2021 had soared to 3 per cent. In absolute terms, approximately 6.6 million people aged 15 and above consume e-cigarettes or vape products.
“This situation is worsened by data from the Basic Health Research survey, which shows an increase in prevalence among the 15-to-19 age group,” he added.