Singaporean arrested after alleged etomidate vape cartridge factory uncovered in Jakarta

Indonesian authorities have uncovered an alleged illegal home industry producing etomidate cartridges in an exclusive residential area of Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK), North Jakarta, arresting a Singaporean national suspected of involvement in the operation.

The suspect, identified by the initials LHM, 34, was arrested during a joint operation conducted by the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police and Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs and Excise authorities. Police said LHM allegedly acted as the person responsible for mixing and preparing the etomidate products, which were packaged into cartridge pods for distribution.

Authorities seized thousands of cartridge pods, empty cartridges and equipment used to fill liquid etomidate into the cartridges. The production equipment was arranged in a manner resembling a small laboratory, police said.

Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Chief Commissioner Wisnu Wardana said the investigation began after customs officers intercepted a package containing liquid etomidate, a substance suspected of being used as a narcotic ingredient.

The shipment contained two bottles of liquid etomidate weighing around 2,200 grams and was sent from Malaysia. According to customs authorities, the liquid had been disguised in shampoo packaging in an attempt to avoid detection.

Following the seizure, officers conducted a controlled delivery operation, allowing the package to continue to its destination while being monitored by investigators.

“From the control delivery, we worked together with Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police to find the location suspected of being used as a place for assembling etomidate cartridges,” Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Office Head Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang said.

At the location, officers found empty cartridges and various tools used to transfer etomidate liquid into cartridge containers.

Suspected mass production operation

Police said the illegal home industry had only recently begun operating and had started filling etomidate liquid into cartridges on Thursday (16 July 2026).

Based on preliminary calculations, two litres of seized etomidate liquid could potentially be processed into approximately 2,000 ready-to-distribute vape cartridge pods.

“From the results of the investigation development, we found thousands of cartridges that had been prepared for mass production,” Wisnu said.

However, authorities said they were still investigating how long the operation had been running, how many cartridges had already been produced, and whether any products had entered circulation.

“We are still conducting further investigations in the field. More detailed and comprehensive information will be delivered at a press conference in the near future,” Wisnu said.

Different smuggling method

Customs officials said the case involved a different method from previous etomidate-related cases.

In earlier cases, etomidate-filled cartridges were typically brought directly into Indonesia by passengers travelling from overseas. In this case, investigators said the raw material was sent separately in liquid form through a courier service, while empty cartridges were imported through another route before being assembled domestically.

“Based on preliminary investigations, the etomidate raw material was found to have originated from Malaysia and was sent through one of the courier service companies operating at Soekarno-Hatta Airport,” Hengky said.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify possible additional suspects, uncover the suspected distribution network, and determine the full supply chain behind the imported etomidate material.

The Singaporean suspect and the seized evidence, including liquid etomidate and production equipment, have been taken to police headquarters for further investigation.

The luxury house allegedly used as the production site has been sealed by authorities and fitted with police lines.