Indonesia’s BNN: No Full Vape Ban Like Singapore, Focus on Controlling Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances

Key Points

• Different stance: Indonesia will not ban vapes; the focus is on controlling narcotic or psychotropic substances in vape liquids.
• Seizure: Around 1,800 vape devices recently confiscated, containing etomidate and ketamine.
• Cooperation: BNN is working with customs, marketplaces, and vape shops to strengthen supervision.
• Singapore comparison: On August 17, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that vaping would be treated as a “drug issue” with harsher penalties.

According to a Tempo report on August 22, Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN) confirmed it will not follow Singapore’s move to impose a blanket ban on e-cigarettes. On August 21, BNN Chief Marthinus Hukom told the media that Indonesia’s focus is on tightening control over vape liquids containing hazardous substances, rather than banning vaping devices themselves.

Hukom revealed that BNN had recently seized about 1,800 vaping devices laced with etomidate and ketamine. Laboratory analysis confirmed that these substances are classified as anesthetics and fall under the psychotropic category. The cases were then handed over to the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) and the police.

He stressed that while e-cigarettes have evolved from traditional tobacco products, they are also being misused as a new method of drug abuse. BNN is now collaborating with customs, e-commerce platforms, and vape shops to enhance market monitoring. Hukom emphasized:

“What is banned is the narcotics, not the vape.”

In contrast, Singapore has recently tightened its stance. On August 17, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong declared in his National Day address that vaping will now be treated as a drug-related issue, with stricter penalties including imprisonment. Wong noted that although vaping has been banned since 2018, smuggling remains rampant, and many products contain hazardous substances such as etomidate, known locally as “Kpods.”