"We identified a place used to mix and process liquid narcotics, which were then injected into vape liquid and happy water," BNN Acting Deputy for Eradication, Budi Wibowo, informed on Tuesday.
During the raid, officers arrested four people, each of whom has been named as a suspect for their respective roles.
According to Wibowo, the lab was part of an international drug trafficking network.
The discovery of the drug manufacturing lab began during the Christmas and New Year Security Operation at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, when the team arrested two Malaysian passengers, identified as HHS and DM, for carrying materials suspected of containing MDMA and Ethomidate.
Officers conducted further investigation and arrested two other individuals, PS and HSN, who were suspected of acting as field controllers and managing the network's operations.
Following up on PS's statement, a joint team then raided an apartment in Jakarta, which was being used as a narcotics manufacturing facility.
At the facility, MDMA and Ethomidate smuggled from abroad were mixed with nicotine oil and flavorings disguised as vape liquid before being transported to another location.
Further investigation led to a warehouse in Pademangan area of North Jakarta, where officers seized suspected narcotics, dozens of ready-to-distribute vape liquid cartridges containing narcotics, thousands of empty cartridges, and various other ingredients and equipment.
The investigation revealed that the network employed a multi-layered covert operation.
Besides the vape liquids, raw materials like Ethomidate were packaged to resemble energy drink sachets.
Wibowo said this method is used to deceive officers and facilitate cross-border smuggling by disguising narcotics as consumer products.
For their actions, the suspects were charged under Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics, namely Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1), which carries a penalty of life imprisonment or the death penalty, or a minimum of 6 years' imprisonment and a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment, and a maximum fine of Rp10 billion (US$579 thousand).
Followed by Article 112 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1), which carries a penalty of life imprisonment or a minimum of 5 years' imprisonment and a maximum fine of Rp8 billion (US$463 thousand).
Lastly, Article 113 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1), with the threat of the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years, as well as a maximum fine of Rp10 billion (US$579 thousand).
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Translator: Fianda Sjofjan, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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