Singaporean among four foreigners arrested after Rp97.8 billion etomidate seizure at Jakarta airport

Indonesian police have seized 8.6 litres of liquid etomidate worth an estimated Rp97.8 billion (approximately S$8 million or US$6 million) in three separate smuggling cases at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, leading to the arrest of four foreign nationals from Singapore, Malaysia, China and Thailand.

The seizures were made between February and May 2026 and were linked to what authorities described as an international drug trafficking network attempting to bring the substance into Indonesia through the country’s busiest airport.

The suspects were identified as TN, a Singaporean national; CT, a Malaysian national; JZ, a Chinese national; and SP, a Thai national.

“Soekarno-Hatta Airport remains a target for international narcotics networks seeking to bring etomidate into Indonesia,” Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Chief Senior Commissioner Wisnu Wardana said in a statement issued on 23 June.

According to police, the combined volume of etomidate seized in the three cases could have been processed into nearly 14,000 vape cartridges containing the drug.

Singaporean among first suspects arrested

The largest seizure was made on 21 May at the International Arrivals Terminal 2F of Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta.

Officers became suspicious of luggage belonging to TN from Singapore and CT from Malaysia after they arrived on a flight from Malaysia.

A search uncovered 4,000 millilitres of liquid etomidate concealed in plastic packaging and bottles labelled as Dove personal care products.

Investigators said the pair told police they had been instructed by a fugitive identified only by the initials DN to transport the substance to Jakarta.

TN was allegedly promised payment of S$3,000 (about Rp42 million), while CT was reportedly offered a holiday trip to Indonesia in exchange for carrying the shipment.

AKP Michael Kharisma, head of the airport police narcotics unit, said the seized quantity had an estimated value of Rp47.47 billion (around S$3.9 million or US$2.9 million) and could potentially have been used to produce 6,782 etomidate vape cartridges.

Both suspects were arrested for further investigation.

Chinese national arrested after arriving from Thailand

In a second case, police arrested JZ, a Chinese national, at Terminal 2F on 25 May at about 11 p.m.

JZ had arrived from Thailand on Thai Lion Air flight SL116 when officers inspected a black suitcase and discovered a bottle labelled “Dove” containing 500 millilitres of liquid etomidate hidden inside a plastic bag.

Police said JZ admitted being instructed by a wanted suspect identified by the initials HC to transport the substance from Thailand to Jakarta.

According to investigators, the etomidate was intended to be collected by a recipient in Jakarta after JZ had returned to China.

Thai national linked to earlier seizure

The earliest case occurred on 26 February at approximately 9 p.m. at Terminal 3 International Arrivals.

Police arrested SP, a Thai national, after the suspect arrived from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG435.

A search of SP’s luggage uncovered seven bottles containing a total of 4,100 millilitres of etomidate disguised as ordinary consumer products.

The shipment consisted of three bottles labelled “Parrot” containing 2,100 millilitres of etomidate and four bottles labelled “Coconut Oil” containing another 2,000 millilitres.

Investigators said SP told officers that a wanted suspect identified as SS had instructed the individual to bring the substance into Indonesia.

International syndicate investigation continues

Police said the total amount of etomidate seized across the three operations reached 8,600 millilitres, with an estimated economic value of Rp97.87 billion, equivalent to roughly S$8 million or US$6 million.

Authorities estimate the confiscated liquid could have been converted into almost 14,000 drug-laced vape cartridges.

Wisnu said the cases highlighted the continued use of commercial aviation routes by international drug syndicates seeking to smuggle etomidate into Indonesia.

He added that police believed the seizures had prevented the substance from reaching tens of thousands of potential users.

The airport police said they would continue strengthening surveillance and coordination with customs and other border control agencies to prevent international trafficking networks from exploiting Indonesian airports.

Authorities also appealed to travellers and airport users to report information related to illicit drug activities.

The four suspects have been charged under Article 119(2) of Indonesia’s Narcotics Law No. 35 of 2009. If convicted, they face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.