Industry Players Call for Protection of Law-Abiding Legal Businesses
The chairman of the Indonesian Vape Consumer Alliance (Akvindo), Paido Siahaan, has called on government institutions not to treat the entire electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or vape ecosystem as a gateway for narcotics abuse, following statements by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN). He argued that policy must be set proportionally and based on data, whilst clearly distinguishing between legal and illegal actors.
Paido affirmed that industry players respect the role and authority of the BNN in combating narcotics trafficking. However, he said the approach taken should not generalise the entire e-cigarette sector on account of the actions of certain individuals.
“I respect the BNN chief’s concerns regarding the potential misuse of vape devices and liquids. We also give our full support to the BNN in taking firm action against all forms of criminality and the circulation of illegal vape products. Nevertheless, the BNN should not generalise and punish the legal sector for the actions of illegal operators,” Paido said in a written statement cited on Tuesday, 24 February 2026.
He stressed that law enforcement against narcotics crimes must continue. At the same time, the government has an obligation to protect legal e-cigarette businesses that have complied with regulations. According to him, excessively extreme policies risk creating new problems, including encouraging the circulation of unmonitored illegal products.
Paido also addressed claims that vaping as a smoking cessation aid is an illusion or scientifically unproven. He stated his disagreement with such assertions and referred to a compilation of global scientific evidence concluding that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes can help adult smokers quit, compared with other nicotine replacement therapies and nicotine-free vapes.
According to him, these findings are supported by a number of clinical trials across various countries, which demonstrate the effectiveness of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool when accompanied by appropriate support.
He warned that if the narrative linking e-cigarettes to narcotics continues to develop without a clear distinction between legal and illegal products, it has the potential to give rise to detrimental regulations. Overly restrictive policies could kill the legal market that has been paying excise duties and push consumers towards illegal products.