Arrest of Suspect for Selling "Upbeat e-cigarette" Containing Illicit Substance

According to a report from Longhua News on November 13th, on November 9th, the Longhua District People's Procuratorate in Shenzhen approved the arrest of a criminal suspect named Li on charges of drug trafficking involving the sale of "Shangtou e-cigarettes" containing the component ethyl loflazepate. This is the first case in the city where a suspect has been arrested for drug trafficking since ethyl loflazepate was included in the second category of psychotropic drugs on October 1, 2023.

In September 2023, the suspect, Mr. Li, allegedly acquired e-cigarette pods containing ethyl ether from others with the intention of profiting from their illegal sale.

On October 4, 2023, a suspected criminal named Li knowingly continued to sell 7 e-cigarette pods containing the controlled substance ethyl methylphenidate via WeChat to Liu for a price of 3000 yuan, despite being aware that ethyl methylphenidate had already been classified as a controlled substance by relevant national authorities.

Lei Momo was apprehended at the scene of the transaction by the police, who seized 7 e-cigarette pods from Liu Momo. After analysis, all 7 e-cigarette pods were found to contain etomidate. On November 2, Longhua Branch of Shenzhen Public Security Bureau transferred the case to the district prosecutor's office for approval of the arrest.

Starting from October 1, 2023, the consumption of e-cigarettes containing etizolam will be considered drug abuse, and the sale of e-cigarettes containing etizolam will be regarded as drug trafficking. The local district prosecutor's office is committed to cracking down on drug-related crimes. On November 9, they approved the arrest of the suspect named Li and provided the investigating agency with recommendations for further investigation and evidence collection. They will also supervise the law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the source of the drugs involved and take comprehensive measures to combat drug-related crimes.

Methaqualone is a carboxyl ester class medication that contains an imidazole ring. It exists as a white crystalline or crystalline powder and possesses sedative-hypnotic properties. In the medical field, it is commonly used for intravenous anesthesia induction or anesthesia assistance. Prior to being regulated, illicit individuals often exploited its anesthetic effects, using it as a substitute for illicit drugs and mixing it into cigarette tobacco or e-liquids. Methaqualone was frequently transformed into pods or disguised as "high-grade e-cigarettes" for inhalation, resulting in a particularly prominent issue. The danger of methaqualone lies in the fact that first-time users may experience dizziness and unsteady posture similar to being intoxicated. With high doses, irritability and respiratory distress can occur. Prolonged and excessive usage greatly increases the risk of death.

According to Announcement No. 120 of 2023 released by the National Medical Products Administration, Ministry of Public Security, and National Health Commission, methylphenidate is included in the second category of psychotropic drug catalog. The announcement will take effect on October 1, 2023. This means that selling methylphenidate powder and e-cigarettes will be punishable as drug trafficking.