Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has exposed a new type of drug disguised as e-cigarettes, following the interception of illegal shipments from Malaysia and France.

BNN Chief Commissioner General Marthinus Hukom announced on Friday that officers had seized 80 milliliters of synthetic marijuana (MDMB-4en-PINACA) and vape pods shipped from Malaysia to Pandeglang, Banten.

The agency also confiscated a 3-kilogram package of powdered ketamine from France, delivered to Bogor, West Java, suspected to be used as vape liquid. In total, officers found 1,860 e-cigarette cartridges.

“These findings show the rapid emergence of new psychoactive substances with narcotic-like effects entering Indonesia,” Hukom said, stressing the urgent need for regulations on e-cigarette mixtures containing such substances.

Acting Deputy for Eradication Budi Wibowo added that the shipment from Malaysia was detected on August 7, 2025, in coordination with Customs and Excise.

A controlled delivery led to the arrest of two suspects, RSR and M, on August 9 in Pandeglang.

A separate package from France was uncovered on August 19, resulting in the arrest of two more suspects, JA and XZ.

Officers found 1,860 ketamine-filled cartridges at XZ’s residence in Bogor, intended for distribution as vape liquid.

As part of the investigation, BNN collected and tested various vape brands circulating in Indonesia.

“We’ve gathered 187 samples—107 have been tested, and 80 are still being processed,” Wibowo said.


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