JAKARTA, LITERASIHUKUM.COM — Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives Ahmad Sahroni expressed his full support for the proposal of the Head of the National Narcotics Board (BNN) Police Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto to ban the circulation of vapes or e-cigarettes in Indonesia. According to Sahroni, the proposal deserves serious consideration because vapes are considered increasingly vulnerable to being misused as a means of consuming new types of narcotics.

Sahroni believes that the issue of vapes can no longer be seen merely as a lifestyle issue or an alternative tobacco product choice. In his view, vapes now have the potential to become drug camouflage, so that if it is not explicitly regulated, it could pose a wider threat to society. Therefore, he affirmed his support for including the prohibition in the discussion of the Narcotics Bill which is currently being discussed in Commission III of the DPR.

BNN Discovers Narcotics Content in Hundreds of Liquid Samples

Sahroni's support stems from the Head of BNN's presentation in a working meeting with Commission III of the DPR the day before. In that forum, Suyudi revealed the results of the BNN central laboratory test on 341 vape liquid samples. From the tests, BNN found 11 samples contained synthetic cannabinoid, 1 sample contained methamphetamine or crystal meth, and 23 samples contained etomidate, which is referred to as an anesthetic.

BNN also reminded that the development of narcotic substances is moving very quickly. Globally, it has been identified 1,386 new psychoactive substances (NPS), while in Indonesia it has been detected 175 types of NPS. This data is used by BNN to affirm that patterns of narcotics abuse are now increasingly diverse and difficult to detect if the state does not immediately update its legal instruments.

Sahroni Says Prohibition Needs to be Included in the Narcotics Bill

Sahroni emphasized that, as the leader of Commission III, he supports the proposal to prohibit vapes not just remaining a discourse, but being discussed as a norm in the Narcotics and Psychotropics Bill. This stance demonstrates that the BNN's proposal is beginning to receive political support from the leadership of the commission overseeing law, security, and law enforcement in the DPR.

Previously, Suyudi also mentioned several ASEAN countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, and Laos have already taken steps to ban vapes. The National Narcotics Board (BNN) believes that such a firm approach needs to be considered by Indonesia, especially since vapes have been proven to be used as a medium for consuming or distributing dangerous substances such as etomidate.

With the emergence of support from the leadership of Commission III of the House of Representatives, discussions about vapes now have the potential to shift from merely a health and lifestyle issue to an issue of narcotics legal politics. The next question is whether that support will lead to a total ban, strict restrictions, or a special supervisory formulation in the draft bill being discussed.