JAKARTA: The Indonesian National Narcotics Agency has detained two Malaysians suspected of being involved in the processing of e-cigarette or vape liquids containing etomidate.
The two men were arrested on Friday (Jan 16) at an apartment in South Jakarta, which is believed to have been used as an illegal laboratory to produce etomidate, an intravenous anesthetic drug.
The agency's Director General of Enforcement, Aldrin Hutabarat, said intelligence and investigation revealed that one of the suspects arrived in Jakarta carrying a suitcase and a backpack containing about 3,000 empty vape cartridges before heading to the apartment.
"During the raid, both suspects were mixing etomidate liquid to be filled into vape cartridges,” he said in a statement here on Friday.
He said BNN also seized etomidate liquid, vape cartridges and their caps, cash, and mobile phones in the raid.
He added that one of the suspects admitted receiving Rp 6.39 million (RM1,656) payment from an individual to travel to Indonesia.
Both suspects are now being investigated under Indonesia’s Narcotics Law No. 35 of 2009. — Bernama
