(Jakarta, 25th) The Indonesian National Narcotics Agency has recently uncovered several cases of smuggling narcotic substances disguised as e-cigarettes, but authorities currently have no plans to classify e-liquid as a narcotic drug.
The Jakarta Globe reported that the National Narcotics Agency recently thwarted attempts to smuggle synthetic marijuana and ketamine, drugs that can be used to manufacture vape cartridges. Authorities recently seized 3 kilograms of ketamine powder, 1,860 vape cartridges containing illegal substances, and 80 milliliters of synthetic marijuana from goods originating in Malaysia and France.
The seized vape cartridges contained ketamine and etomidate—the latter is an anesthetic agent used in hospitals to induce sedation. Indonesian law does not list etomidate as a narcotic, but it is a controlled psychoactive substance which may harm the central nervous system, posing a high risk of abuse. Ketamine, on the other hand, is classified as a category IV narcotic.
National Narcotics Agency chief Petrus Reinhard Golose said: “This indicates that new psychoactive substances with narcotic-like effects are spreading rapidly in Indonesia.”
Despite this troubling trend, Golose emphasized that the government does not intend to impose a blanket ban on e-cigarettes. He said: “It’s not about banning or not banning. We must distinguish between e-cigarettes used for smoking and those used by some groups for criminal activities.”
The Indonesian government has strengthened cooperation between the National Narcotics Agency, Customs, the Ministry of Health, and the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency to plug regulatory loopholes in the importation and distribution of modified vape devices.
Singapore has recently taken a tougher stance on e-cigarettes. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said last week at the National Day Rally that the government would approach e-cigarettes as a drug-related issue and impose harsher penalties, rather than treating them merely as tobacco products.
The Jakarta Globe reported that the National Narcotics Agency recently thwarted attempts to smuggle synthetic marijuana and ketamine, drugs that can be used to manufacture vape cartridges. Authorities recently seized 3 kilograms of ketamine powder, 1,860 vape cartridges containing illegal substances, and 80 milliliters of synthetic marijuana from goods originating in Malaysia and France.
The seized vape cartridges contained ketamine and etomidate—the latter is an anesthetic agent used in hospitals to induce sedation. Indonesian law does not list etomidate as a narcotic, but it is a controlled psychoactive substance which may harm the central nervous system, posing a high risk of abuse. Ketamine, on the other hand, is classified as a category IV narcotic.
National Narcotics Agency chief Petrus Reinhard Golose said: “This indicates that new psychoactive substances with narcotic-like effects are spreading rapidly in Indonesia.”
Despite this troubling trend, Golose emphasized that the government does not intend to impose a blanket ban on e-cigarettes. He said: “It’s not about banning or not banning. We must distinguish between e-cigarettes used for smoking and those used by some groups for criminal activities.”
The Indonesian government has strengthened cooperation between the National Narcotics Agency, Customs, the Ministry of Health, and the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency to plug regulatory loopholes in the importation and distribution of modified vape devices.
Singapore has recently taken a tougher stance on e-cigarettes. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said last week at the National Day Rally that the government would approach e-cigarettes as a drug-related issue and impose harsher penalties, rather than treating them merely as tobacco products.