Chief of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police, Senior Commissioner Ronald Sipayung, informed in Tangerang on Wednesday that police personnel arrested one Indonesian citizen (WNI), identified with the initials J, traveling from Bangkok, Thailand.
"The perpetrator brought 46 cartridges containing etomidate, which were stored in two of his suitcases. The perpetrator brought the goods from Bangkok," he said.
He informed that etomidate has a hemodynamic effect that affects blood flow, causes hallucinations, and produces a high.
According to Sipayung, J put the drugs in an electronic cigarette tube or cartridge, which he packed in a suitcase. He noted that this is a new form of drug smuggling.
"This may be a new type, similar to an electric cigarette or vape. Etomidate is a liquid for vape but contains drugs," he expounded.
Based on J's statement, the illegal drugs were brought in from Bangkok and were intended to be sold in Indonesia for Rp4 million (US$236) per unit.
"If he successfully escaped and passed through Soekarno-Hatta Airport, the perpetrator planned to sell one bottle of cartridge containing etomidate worth of Rp4 million," Sipayung said.
He noted that etomidate also has medical uses. However, J brought it without a prescription or accompanying documents.
"Therefore, we arrested the perpetrator for his action against the Health Law by bringing 46 etomidate cartridges," Sipayung said.
J has been charged under Article 435 subsidiary Article 436 paragraph (2) of Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health. He faces a maximum imprisonment of 12 years.
"Etomidate is included in class II narcotics and (its use) is currently rampant among young people, especially those who often use vapes. However, we used the Health Law to sanction the perpetrator, not the Narcotics Law," Sipayung said.
Translator: Azmi Syamsul, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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