Police state that raw material for etomidate drug was brought by perpetrator from China

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Narcotics Investigation Unit of the North Jakarta Metro Police, AKBP Ari Galang Saputro, stated that the raw material for the narcotic drug etomidate was brought by the perpetrator, a foreign national (WNA) from China with initials HC (51), from his home country before being processed at several locations used as home industries in North Jakarta.

“According to the suspect’s confession, the material he ordered from abroad, namely from China,” said Ari in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Currently, he said, the investigation and prosecution process is still ongoing. Officers are still delving into the case and investigating how the raw material for the illicit goods could enter Indonesia.

Ari mentioned that the perpetrator claimed to have a turnover of up to Rp40 million in one drug transaction.

“The monthly turnover is still being calculated because there are still some items that have not been distributed,” Ari stated.

“From developments at two different locations, police again seized several pieces of evidence including raw materials and etomidate vape cartridges belonging to the suspect HC (51),” Ari explained.

Officers then developed leads to the second location and found several empty cartridges suspected to be used by the suspect to fill with etomidate substances.

“Then, officers developed leads to the third location and found hundreds of etomidate vapes that were already packaged and ready for distribution,” Ari revealed.

His side also found six packets of raw materials suspected to be used to make the etomidate vapes.

“We also found items of production equipment used by the suspect to cook and fill, so that the vape cartridges could be distributed,” Ari added.