Polri destroys 41 etomidate cartridges seized from sailor in Riau

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Directorate of Narcotics Crimes (Dittipidnarkoba) of the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency destroyed 41 vape cartridges containing the substance etomidate, seized from a sailor named Hendi alias Asiong in Riau.

“Evidence from the suspect with police report number: LP/A/75/IV/2026/SPKT.Dittipidnarkoba/Bareskrim Polri dated 14 April 2026, namely 41 cartridges of the narcotic type etomidate,” said the Head of Subdirectorate II of Dittipidnarkoba Bareskrim Polri, Commissioner Pol. Awaludin Amin, in Jakarta on Monday.

He stated that before the destruction of the evidence, personnel from the Forensic Laboratory Centre of Bareskrim Polri checked all the narcotic evidence. Subsequently, the illicit goods were placed into an incineration machine in the parking lot of the Bareskrim Polri building in Jakarta.

Previously, the Director of Narcotics Crimes (Dirtipidnarkoba) of Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Pol. Eko Hadi Santoso, said that his team arrested a sailor named Hendy alias Asiong for possessing vape cartridges containing etomidate.

The suspect was arrested in the parking lot of a hotel on 14 April 2026. From the search, investigators found 43 etomidate cartridges branded THUGS, which according to Hendi’s statement, originally numbered 50 cartridges.

He said that the illicit goods were purchased from an individual with the initial R for Rp98 million. To the investigators, Hendi also admitted to having bought etomidate cartridges four times with the same value since March 2026.

From preliminary interrogation results, it was learned that the etomidate in possession belonged to Hendi personally and was consumed by himself along with his friends.