Discussions on Vape Ban in Narcotics Bill, Metro Police Open Up
JAKARTA — Metro Jaya Police assess that the discourse on prohibiting electronic cigarettes or vapes, which has emerged in discussions on the Narcotics Bill (RUU Narkotika), still requires in-depth examination.
Police state that the proposal has not yet become a decision as it remains in the discussion phase.
The discourse on banning vapes surfaced during a meeting between the Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the Polri Narcotics Directorate, and Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) on Tuesday (7/4/2026).
“Regarding the discourse from the people’s representatives requesting that vapes be banned. But that is still just discourse; it still needs in-depth discussion on the matter,” said Ahmad David at Metro Jaya Police Headquarters on Wednesday (8/4).
According to him, there has been no further development on the regulation to date. Police are still awaiting the results of the discussions as it relates to plans to amend the law.
“There has been no development yet; it was only raised yesterday in connection with discussions on amendments to the Narcotics and Psychotropics Laws,” David continued.
Previously, BNN proposed that vapes be banned in Indonesia. The proposal arose due to the widespread misuse of vape liquids mixed with narcotics.
BNN Chief Suyudi Ario Seto stated that the findings were based on laboratory tests of hundreds of vape liquid samples.
“It is a major hope for BNN that a vape ban can be implemented in Indonesia, because vapes have been proven to be misused as a medium to be filled with etomidate,” said Suyudi during a public hearing (RDPU) with Commission III of the DPR RI on the Narcotics and Psychotropics Bill, on Tuesday (7/4/2026).
In addition, 23 samples were found to contain etomidate, and one sample contained methamphetamine, or sabu.
Suyudi explained that etomidate is an anaesthetic drug that has now been classified under Schedule II narcotics. According to him, these findings indicate that vapes have been misused as a medium for consuming dangerous substances.
“We view that if vapes as this medium are banned, the circulation of etomidate can also be significantly addressed, just like sabu which always requires a bong as a medium for consumption,” Suyudi clarified.