BNN highlights liquid meth, etomidate found in vape cartridges

Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has warned that electronic cigarettes, commonly known as vape devices, are increasingly being used as a new channel for consuming illicit drugs, calling the trend an “indisputable” reality.

“We have found indisputable evidence that vape has become an effective means, or a new medium, for consuming narcotics and new psychoactive substances (NPS),” BNN chief Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto said in opening remarks at a focus group discussion (FGD) at the agency’s headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Citing the agency’s findings, Suyudi argued that the popular claim portraying vaping as a tool to help people stop smoking is more narrative than proven fact, and that the product can instead serve as a new entry point.

“I want to stress here that the narrative of vape as an aid to quit smoking is an illusion that has not been scientifically proven effective. On the contrary, this product has opened a new gateway,” he said.

Suyudi also pointed to what he described as the difficulty of immediately identifying what a vape device contains while it is being used, including from the aroma of the vapor it produces.

“They can use it anywhere—especially because it smells nice. People won’t know that what’s inside is actually narcotics,” he said.

According to Suyudi, e-cigarettes offer users a way to hide and to shift away from more conventional drug paraphernalia, such as a bong commonly associated with methamphetamine use.

“This is chemical-based—liquids and mixtures. So vape is the most suitable tool for users to hide behind, compared with the conventional tools like the bong,” he said.

Suyudi added that BNN has found vape liquids containing addictive substances, including what he described as liquid methamphetamine, etomidate, and other emerging types of drugs.

“That’s the problem. It looks like someone is vaping—like they’re just using an electronic cigarette—but inside it turns out to be liquid meth. It’s etomidate. It’s chemical substances classified as narcotics,” he said.

He went on to describe vape liquid, or e-liquid, as a mixture of various substances and claimed it can include what he referred to as category I and II narcotics, alongside ingredients such as nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin, and other additive compounds.

“From the perspective of chemical substances, vape liquid or e-liquid is a chemical cocktail. It contains nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin, plant-based components, as well as flavoring agents such as diacetyl, acetyl pyridine, and benzaldehyde, which pose high health risks,” he said.

Indonesianpost.com | Antara