Customs and Police Thwart Distribution of Suspected Harmful Liquid Vape

The synergy between Pantoloan Customs and the Central Sulawesi Police’s Narcotics Investigation Directorate successfully conducted an enforcement action against a shipped item suspected of containing hazardous substances at one of the delivery service companies in Palu city.

The item was disguised with a mixture of snacks as part of the shipping modus operandi. The enforcement took place at one of the delivery service companies located on Diponegoro Street, Palu Barat Subdistrict, Palu City, Central Sulawesi (1/5/2026).

The enforcement began with intelligence information received by the Pantoloan Customs team regarding a suspicious package believed to contain Yakuza-brand liquid vapes with the hazardous substance Etomidate.

Based on joint examination by officials, one box containing three units of Yakuza-brand liquid vapes was found. To deceive the officials, the item was disguised with a mixture of snacks or crisps as part of the shipping modus operandi.

Officials then conducted further investigation by coordinating with the delivery service regarding the package, which was known to use Cash on Delivery (COD) payment method.

However, during tracing up to the delivery process to the destination address, the recipient identity listed on the consignment note was found to be invalid, while the contact number provided was unreachable. This condition strengthens the suspicion that the shipment used a fictitious identity to avoid tracking by officials.

As a result of the enforcement, officials secured evidence in the form of one box containing three units of Yakuza-brand liquid vapes along with snacks for further research and handling in accordance with applicable regulations.

Head of the Internal Compliance and Outreach Section of Pantoloan Customs, Galih Seno Prabowo, explained that the success of this enforcement is a form of commitment to carrying out the community protector function through supervision of shipped goods traffic.

The modus operandi of smuggling hazardous goods continues to evolve, including by exploiting delivery services and disguising items to pass inspections.

“Therefore, Customs will continue to strengthen supervision and tighten synergy with law enforcement apparatus to ensure that hazardous goods do not circulate in society,” said Galih in a statement on Friday (8/5/2026).