South Sumatra Police Uncovers Etomidate Narcotics in the Form of Liquid Vape

PALEMBANG - The South Sumatra Regional Police Narcotics Directorate together with the South Sumatra Customs Office revealed the circulation of a new type of narcotics in the form of etomidate disguised as an electric cigarette liquid (liquid vape) and marketed as a luxury item.

Director of the Narcotics Directorate of the South Sumatra Police, Kombes Yulian Perdana, said the disclosure began with a raid on a boarding house in the Siring Agung area, Palembang, which was then developed into a pursuit to Medan City.

The three suspects who were arrested were NA and RU as a pair of dealers, and a female supplier with the initials DAP.

In the disclosure, the police confiscated hundreds of liquid vape cartridges containing harmful substances. Based on laboratory test results, the liquid is not only classified as a hard drug, but also contains psychotropic substances.

"This narcotics is sold at a price of Rp. 3 million to Rp. 7 million per cartridge measuring 2 to 5 milliliters. From the results of laboratory examinations, 114 cartridges are positive for containing MDMA or the equivalent of ecstasy," he said as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 27.

He explained that etomidate is a hard drug that is now categorized as a Class II narcotic because it has a high damaging impact on the health of its users.

The goods are suspected to be imported products from China that entered through the land route from Medan before being distributed in Palembang.

In addition to liquid narcotics evidence, the police also seized a number of assets with economic value suspected of originating from the results of narcotics crimes.

"The suspects are charged with the Narcotics Law and the Money Laundering Criminal Act (TPPU) to uncover the flow of funds and the circulation network," he explained.