Indonesia proposes vape ban under narcotics law

 Indonesia’s anti-narcotics chief notes that Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei and Vietnam have already moved to ban vapes.

Indonesia is facing a growing trend of narcotic substances being distributed in vape form.

JAKARTA:

 Indonesia has proposed banning electronic cigarettes, or vapes, under its narcotics law as authorities warn that the devices are increasingly being misused to consume illicit drugs.

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) said the proposal, which includes vape liquids, would be part of planned revisions to the country’s narcotics and psychotropics laws.

BNN chief Suyudi Ario Seto said Indonesia was facing a growing trend of narcotic substances being distributed in vape form, describing it as a serious threat.

“Based on laboratory tests conducted by BNN on 341 vape liquid samples, we found very concerning results.

“Of the samples tested, 11 contained synthetic cannabinoids, one contained methamphetamine, and 23 were found to contain etomidate, an anaesthetic,” Antara news agency quoted him as saying.

Suyudi noted that several Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Laos, had already moved to ban the sale of vapes.

He said banning vape devices could significantly curb the distribution of liquids containing illicit chemical compounds, likening their role to that of a bong used to consume methamphetamine.

“Without the device, the use of such substances can be more effectively controlled,” he added.

He also said the rapid evolution of narcotics presented an increasing challenge, with 1,386 new psychoactive substances identified globally, including 175 already detected in Indonesia. - FMT