Police Bust Three Clandestine Operations of Etomidate Vapes Worth Rp145 Billion Involving Foreign Nationals
The Soekarno-Hatta Airport Regional Police (Polresta) have dismantled three production and distribution networks for etomidate-type vapes involving foreign nationals, with a total estimated value of Rp145 billion.
These three clandestine home-based drug industries were uncovered in a residential area and an apartment in the Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) area of North Jakarta, as well as a residential area in Sidoarjo, East Java.
According to the Chief of Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police, Commissioner Wisnu Wardana, authorities have handled six reports related to the distribution of etomidates and methamphetamine (shabu).
“The number of suspects involved in the etomidate distribution includes 11 individuals: TR, MH, TB, and RN are Indonesian citizens; SSM, MKS, SMAS, RK, SPAM, and SK are Indian nationals; and LHM is a Singaporean national. Meanwhile, the methamphetamine distribution suspects include three Indonesian citizens, namely DAD, A, MR, and IAPY,” Commissioner Wisnu stated during a press conference at his office on Thursday evening.
Evidence seized includes 2.250 kg of liquid etomidate, 779.7 ready-to-distribute etomidate vapes, 8.78 kg of etomidate powder, 5.32 kg of etomidate powder, 25 etomidate cartridges, 223 ready-to-distribute etomidate cartridges, and 3.9 grams of methamphetamine.
“The total amount seized includes 3.29 kg of liquid etomidate, 13.11 kg of etomidate powder, 249 ready-to-distribute cartridges, and 2.250 kg of methamphetamine, which, when converted, is equivalent to Rp145 billion,” he added.
Regarding the three dismantled home industries, Commissioner Wisnu noted that the clandestine drug laboratories in the PIK and Sidoarjo residential areas had only just begun production and were not yet fully operational, whereas the one in the PIK apartment had been operating for three months.
“Regarding distribution, it was carried out through friendship networks spread across various regions in Indonesia,” he said.
“We worked in collaboration with the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs Office and successfully saved approximately 106,353 generations in Indonesia,” Wisnu continued.
As a result of their actions, the suspects face charges under Article 119 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics, as well as several articles in Law Number 1 of 2026 regarding Criminal Adjustment, with potential penalties ranging from a minimum of five years in prison to the death penalty.