Disguised as Ordinary Toy Package, It Actually Contains Narcotics

TANGERANG – Eight vape pods containing etomidate, a Schedule II narcotic, disguised in a Lego toy package were seized by Soekarno-Hatta Customs in Tangerang on Tuesday (24/3/2026). The package was sent from Malaysia to Kemayoran, Jakarta, and entered via the parcel service route at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Hengky stated that the perpetrator used the modus operandi of false declaration by listing the package contents as Lego toys. However, the opposite was true; officers suspected the package declared as toys from Malaysia. Upon inspection, the contents did not match the declaration documents. This finding was followed up by coordinating with the Airport Police Narcotics Unit. From the investigation, officers arrested a man with initials JS (33), suspected to be the recipient of the package in the Jakarta area. “We also declared DK as a wanted suspect whom we are still searching for, who acted as the owner of the goods, while JS acted as the courier,” explained Hengky. Currently, JS, who has been designated as a suspect along with the evidence, has been handed over to the Airport Police for further investigation. For his actions, JS is charged under Article 119 Paragraph (2) of Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, with a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment. Etomidate is an anaesthetic drug compound used via intravenous injection to induce and maintain anaesthesia, particularly in medical procedures requiring short sedation. Etomidate has sedative, hypnotic, and relaxation effects by acting directly on the central nervous system. In medical practice, etomidate is often used in patients with high cardiovascular risk due to its advantages of rapid onset and minimal effects on blood pressure. Due to these characteristics, the drug may only be used under medical supervision. Although beneficial in the medical world, etomidate becomes highly dangerous when used illegally, especially if inhaled through e-cigarettes. Use of etomidate outside medical channels can trigger serious side effects, including nausea and vomiting, respiratory tract irritation, and coordination disorders.