BPOM Indonesia: Crackdown on Ketamine-Laced Vape Products

Key Points

• Enforcement Authority: BPOM confirmed it has the power to take immediate legal action against ketamine-laced vapes.
• Ketamine Risks: While ketamine has medical use, it is increasingly abused for recreational and non-medical purposes.
• Product Issues: Ketamine-laced vapes are designed to produce aromas or psychoactive effects.
• BNN Seizures: Authorities intercepted 3 kilograms of ketamine powder from France, 1,860 vape cartridges, and synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-4en-PINACA.
• Spread Trend: BNN warned that new psychoactive substances with narcotic-like effects are spreading rapidly and massively across Indonesia.
• Market Testing: BNN has tested 187 vape samples, with results released for 107, while the rest remain under analysis.

2Firsts, August 28, 2025 —— According to TEMPO, Indonesia’s Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) confirmed that it has the authority to take strict enforcement action against vape products containing ketamine. BPOM Chief Taruna Ikrar stated on August 27 at BPOM’s Central Jakarta headquarters that the agency’s regulatory mandate is based not on whether the product is a cigarette or vape, but on whether it contains dangerous substances.

Taruna stressed that although ketamine is used as an anesthetic in medical surgery, its risk of abuse is increasing. It is now often misused as a recreational drug or even for non-medical purposes such as tattooing. BPOM has classified ketamine as a “specific drug” under its new regulations, meaning any vape product testing positive for ketamine may immediately be subject to legal proceedings.

BPOM also noted that some ketamine-laced vapes are designed to generate specific aromas or psychoactive effects, further heightening the risk of misuse. The agency additionally oversees cigarette advertising and mandatory health warnings to ensure public safety.

This statement followed actions by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN). Recently, BNN uncovered counterfeit ketamine used in vape cartridges. In one case, officers seized 80 milliliters of synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-4en-PINACA and one vape pod shipped from Malaysia to Pandeglang, Banten. In another case, they intercepted 3 kilograms of powdered ketamine from France, allegedly intended for vape liquid production, along with 1,860 vape cartridges.

In a statement issued on August 22, BNN warned that the spread of new psychoactive substances with narcotic-like effects is expanding rapidly and massively in Indonesia. To address the issue, BNN has collected 187 vape samples from the market for testing; results for 107 samples have been released, while the remainder are still undergoing laboratory analysis.