The warning follows a major seizure of 8,500 illicit vape refill cartridges smuggled through air cargo routes and intercepted at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
A joint operation by BNN and the National Police has arrested the distributor responsible for circulating the etomidate-contaminated cartridges.
“These illegal vape cartridges are already widespread,” BNN Chief Suyudi Ario Seto said during an event at SMPN 70 senior high school, Jakarta, Tuesday.
“BNN, the National Police, and other law enforcement agencies have arrested the criminals selling narcotics-filled vape refills.”
Suyudi explained that etomidate is an anesthetic drug, and its use in vape liquids poses severe health risks.
Without controlled dosage, inhaling the substance can cause sudden and dangerous physiological reactions.
“This is now a Schedule II narcotic. Imagine a large dose of this liquid entering your body—what would happen?” he said.
“Etomidate is an anesthetic. Anesthetics require precise dosage. But when people vape, is there any dosage control? None. They inhale, and suddenly—boom—they can collapse.”
He noted that the substance does not cause instant addiction, but repeated use can lead to dependency.
For comparison, he cited heroin, which can cause addiction after as few as two uses. Etomidate, he said, also requires multiple exposures before dependency develops, but the risk remains significant.
Suyudi urged students and the wider public to avoid experimenting with any illegal substances.
Related news: BNN weighs vape ban in Indonesia following Singapore’s move
“Never think, ‘Trying once is fine.’ Heroin can cause addiction after two uses. By the third, you’re hooked. The addictive potential is extremely high. So be careful—don’t experiment,” he warned.
According to the UNODC Drug Report 2021, around 290 million people worldwide use narcotics.
In Indonesia, 1.73 percent of the population—about 3.3 million people—have been exposed to drugs.
Suyudi said these figures highlight the ongoing challenge of combating narcotics distribution.
He also pointed to data from the Ministry of Health showing that around 70 million Indonesians are active smokers, making the population particularly vulnerable to emerging threats such as drug-laced vape products.
“The narcotics problem has become a serious threat to our nation’s future,” he said.
Related news: BNN uncovers new drug type disguised as vape pods
Translator: Benardy Ferdiansyah/Muhammad Rizki, Aditya Eko Sig
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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