Five Malaysians held in Jakarta as etomidate bust uncovers secret vape lab
Summary
Five Malaysian nationals were arrested at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Friday after arriving from Kuala Lumpur on AirAsia flight QZ201, when Indonesian customs officers found five kilograms of suspected etomidate concealed in the insoles of their shoes. The suspects were identified as Mohamad Zulhusni, 49; Nur Aisyah, 25; Emmanuel, 24; Prince Alvin Robin, 22; and Muhammad Adam, 21. They were allegedly controlled by an individual using the alias "Madam" through Telegram. After arriving in Jakarta, they were instructed to transfer the shoes containing etomidate to a Chinese national named Wu Song at a hotel in Harmoni, Central Jakarta. A joint Bareskrim POLRI team subsequently arrested Wu and discovered a key to an apartment at Mediterania Marina Residence in North Jakarta, where a clandestine laboratory believed to produce vape pods containing etomidate was found. Seized materials included 21,000 empty vape pods, 15,000 silicone pod caps, flavouring liquids, and other assembly equipment valued at approximately Rp127.5 billion (about RM33.8 million). Police estimated the operation prevented distribution of about 42,500 pods and could have protected 21,250 people from narcotics abuse. All suspects are being investigated under Indonesian narcotics laws, including Article 119(2) and Article 132(1) of Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics.
(Source:The Vibes)