Prabowo Threatens Total Vape Ban if Used as Gateway for Narcotics
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed his administration to immediately formulate strict trade governance for electronic cigarettes in Indonesia. He warned that he would not hesitate to impose a total ban on vape distribution if the product is proven to be a gateway for narcotics. This directive was delivered by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago during the International Anti-Narcotics Day commemoration in Lido, Bogor, on Thursday, 23 July 2026. “Today I instruct the Head of BNN, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Trade, the Minister of Law, the Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency, and the Director General of Customs and Excise to convene immediately and strictly reformulate the trade governance of electronic cigarettes in Indonesia,” Prabowo stated. He also demanded the implementation of multi-layered supervision regarding vape distribution and stressed that he would not hesitate to enforce a total ban if the joint study concludes that the risks outweigh the benefits and the product continues to be used as a gateway for new types of narcotics.
Earlier, Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto, revealed a new phenomenon in drug trafficking during a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission III in Jakarta on 7 April 2026. He reported the massive circulation of narcotics in the form of vape liquid. Laboratory tests conducted by the BNN on 341 vape liquid samples found 11 samples containing synthetic cannabinoids, one sample containing methamphetamine, and 23 samples containing etomidate. Suyudi noted that etomidate, an anaesthetic substance, has been officially classified as a Category II narcotic under Minister of Health Regulation Number 15 of 2025 since 28 November 2025. He urged Indonesia to emulate the firm stance of neighbouring ASEAN countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, and Laos, which have already banned the circulation of vapes.