JAKARTA: The law enforcement authorities in Batam in the Riau Islands have detained a Singaporean woman for attempting to smuggle 40 vape cartridges containing etomidate – a non-barbiturate hypnotic and class II narcotic in Indonesia – known as Kpods in Singapore.
Officers from the Batam Customs and Excise Office detained the woman, identified by her initials WSB, when she arrived at 10pm local time on Sept 3 at the city’s Harbour Bay Ferry Terminal in Batu Ampar district aboard the last ferry from Singapore.
The Batam office’s enforcement and investigation head Lucky Tamo said officers became suspicious about WSB due to her awkward gait.
“Upon further investigation, we found the (illicit goods) concealed in her crotch,” Lucky said on Sept 17, during a public event at the Batam, Rempang and Galang (Barelang) Police headquarters in Batam to destroy seized drugs. “Laboratory testing confirmed the liquid contained drugs.”
The office’s compliance and information services head Setiawan Rosyidi confirmed the contraband was strapped to WSB’s crotch area. “The suspect managed to evade surveillance from Singaporean security officers... in Singapore amid (the country’s) heightened commitment and a massive campaign against the use and distribution of vapes,” he said on Sept 17.
During interrogation, WSB said the contraband was intended only for personal consumption while she was in Batam.
Barelang Police chief of narcotics investigation Arsyad Riyandi said the confiscated vape cartridges were not sealed.
“Despite (the suspect) saying it was for her own consumption, we are still developing the case,” Arsyad added. “We are tracing the origin of the goods and a possible connection with international drug syndicates.”
He emphasised that all suspects in drug cases, including foreign nationals, would be processed under prevailing Indonesian laws.
Singapore has banned the purchase, possession and use of vapes, also known as electronic cigarettes, since 2018.
In 2025, during his National Day Rally address on Aug 17, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that vaping would be treated as a “drug issue” following rampant cases related to Kpods.
The authorities in Singapore have also tightened security and inspections along its land border with Malaysia and at international ports connecting to the Riau Islands.
Despite the stepped-up measures, WSB still managed to evade inspection during departure in Singapore and was detained only upon arrival in Batam. WSB, who is among 15 suspects detained in 14 narcotics cases over the past month, is currently in the custody of the Barelang Police for further processing.
During the event on Sept 17, Indonesian police destroyed drug evidence including marijuana, Ecstasy, crystal methamphetamine and hundreds of vape cartridges containing illicit substances with a total market value of 540 million rupiah (US$30,218).
The Straits Times has contacted the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
