General Suyudi and His Commitment to Banning Drug-Laced Vapes
National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto is demonstrating a strong commitment to eradicating drug trafficking. On various occasions, Suyudi has emphasised a total ban on the use of vapes due to their vulnerability to drug abuse.
This total ban on vapes was advocated by Suyudi during his tenure as the Head of the National Narcotics Board (BNN). This call aligns with the recent surge in the smuggling of drug-laced vapes into Indonesian territory.
Suyudi is pushing for the prohibition of vapes because narcotics crime is continuously evolving. One such evolution is the emergence of liquid narcotics, which has been widely uncovered by the BNN alongside other law enforcement agencies in recent months.
These findings indicate that liquid narcotics are no longer just a potential threat but have become a significant part of evolving narcotics crime methods that must be monitored.
Furthermore, the BNN has uncovered several cases of smuggling etomidate and methamphetamine in liquid form, demonstrating the increasing diversity of narcotics and the methods used by syndicates to introduce and distribute drugs in Indonesia.
“And certainly, the entry point is becoming increasingly visible among our children through electronic cigarettes or vapes. They appear to be using ordinary electronic cigarettes, whereas inside, there is liquid narcotics used through the device,” Suypend stated in a written statement on Thursday (10/9/2026).
The BNN recommends a total ban on the use of electronic cigarettes based on the results of testing 1,745 vape samples in BNN laboratories. The results showed that 1,716 samples were detected containing narcotics or New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).
Additionally, discussions with specialists in cardiology, pulmonology, and internal medicine indicate that the chemical content in vapes poses a risk of serious health disorders, especially when the devices are infiltrated with narcotics.
8 Tonnes of Drugs Uncovered in 2 Months
General Suyudi’s track record in drug eradication is unquestionable. During his leadership at the BNN, 8 tonnes of drugs were successfully intercepted over the last two months.
These 8 tonnes of drugs were uncovered in four major cases, starting with the seizure of 3.37 tonnes of cannabis buds.
From the seizure of these cannabis buds, the state managed to prevent potential losses of up to Rp 4.58 trillion, while simultaneously saving 10.1 million lives from narcotics abuse.
Recently, the BNN, together with teams from the Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) and Customs, intercepted 1.3 tonnes of ketamine from an international network, with the economic value of the evidence reaching Rp 2.07 trillion. This operation is estimated to have saved 6.49 million lives.
On 17 August 2026, a joint operation recorded another major seizure. Approximately 2.6 tonnes of liquid methamphetamine were intercepted from the MV Ocean Porter.
The 2.6 tonnes of seized liquid methamphetamine had the potential to produce 2.8 million drug-laced vape cartridges, with an economic value of Rp 8.5 trillion. This seizure saved 14.1 million lives from drug abuse.
Not stopping there, the BNN and other relevant agencies successfully thwarted further drug smuggling. Seven days later, on 24 August 2026, a joint team discovered 800 kilograms of ketamine HCL hidden in the stern of the ship Fu Chang Sing I.
The evidence was packed in 40 sacks containing 800 packages. This discovery was the result of an investigation into international drug networks operating via sea routes.
The Fu Chang Sing I was previously detected performing ship-to-ship activities with the vessel MT Asli before both ships were intercepted by a joint team from the Anambas and Natuna waters. The seizure of 800 kilograms of ketamine HCL is estimated to be worth Rp 1.28 trillion, saving approximately 4 million lives.
The investigation also led to the arrest of a Taiwanese national who acted as the Manager of the Fu Chang Sing vessel and controlled the shipment of the evidence.
In two months, more than 8 tonnes of drugs were secured, and the economic value of the networks disrupted exceeded Rp 16.4 trillion.
Most importantly, more than 34.7 million members of the nation’s younger generation were saved. This is not merely a statistic, but a protection of human lives, families, and the future of Indonesia.
These brilliant achievements led to General Suyudi ascending to the highest leadership position in the Indonesian National Police (Polri). General Suyudi was officially inaugurated as the National Police Chief, replacing General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, on Thursday (1/10).
A 1994 graduate of the Police Academy (Akpol), he was inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto after undergoing a fit and proper test at Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR) on the same day. Commission III of the DPR approved Suyudi as the National Police Chief by acclamation.
Prior to being selected as the National Police Chief, Suyudi served as the Head of the BNN for over a year, during which time the BNN successfully intercepted large quantities of narcotics.