Indonesia Proposes Total Vape Ban to Combat Drug Trafficking
Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has recommended a total ban on electronic cigarettes across the country. The proposal was presented during a policy meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs in Jakarta on September 9, 2026, following evidence that vaping devices are serving as distribution channels for illegal narcotics.
Aldrin M.P. Hutabarat, BNN Deputy for Community Empowerment, reported that agency operations in 2026 resulted in the confiscation of 8,276.15 milliliters of etomidate, 3,485 vape cartridges, 1.3 tons of ketamine, and 2.6 tons of liquid methamphetamine. Key operations spanned multiple provinces, including East Java, the Riau Islands, North Sumatra, Bali, Jambi, and Maluku.
BNN warned that the influx of liquid narcotics threatens public health and imposes heavy financial costs on the state.
“The high circulation of liquid narcotics will increase the number of drug abusers, which negatively affects not only public health but also other sectors,” Hutabarat stated. He added that failure to act quickly will force the government to bear escalating costs for medical rehabilitation, correctional facilities, and community health recovery.
To eliminate these risks, BNN is seeking a presidential regulation (perpres) to ban the devices entirely. The agency noted that the proposal remains part of an ongoing joint review among relevant ministries to ensure the final policy is backed by verifiable data.
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