Vapes Becoming 'Gateway' to Drugs, Cak Imin: Pesantren Environments Must Not Be Complacent!

Jakarta – The Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment and Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin, has highlighted the misuse of electronic cigarettes or vapes, which are now increasingly being exploited as a new container for narcotics distribution.

Cak Imin expressed this concern in response to findings from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), which indicate that vapes have been utilised as a “new vessel” for drug trafficking.

He assessed that this situation requires a serious response, especially since its spread has reportedly extended to educational environments, including pesantrens.

“Vapes are now widely misused for drugs, and this is very dangerous. We must not be complacent, as this could become an unnoticed new entry point, even in pesantren environments that we have long protected,” said Cak Imin in the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) area, quoted on Monday, 20 April 2026.

Cak Imin stressed that this phenomenon cannot be viewed merely as a lifestyle trend among the younger generation but must be seen as a real threat to their future.

According to him, the evolving patterns of drug distribution, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated, demand vigilance from all parties, including families, educational institutions, and law enforcement agencies.

“We must not be merely reactive. The government must ensure clear regulations, strong supervision, and massive education for the younger generation. Pesantrens and schools must also be strengthened so as not to become loopholes for these dangerous practices,” he continued.

Cak Imin also emphasised the importance of a wise and data-based approach in addressing this issue to avoid excessive panic in society while still providing maximum protection to the youth.

“The approach must be balanced. We must be firm against drugs, but also intelligent in reading the phenomenon. We must not make wrong steps due to lack of data, but also not act too late,” he concluded.

Thus, Cak Imin places great hope that the misuse of vapes as a container for drug distribution can be handled comprehensively through cross-sector collaboration.

“So that educational spaces, including pesantrens, remain safe and conducive places for shaping the character of the nation’s generation,” he added.