inp.polri.go.id - Serang. The Banten Regional Police's Drugs Criminal Investigation Directorate has thwarted the distribution of a new type of narcotic, Etomidate, packaged in the form of e-vape cartridges. 

This discovery was made after police received information about a suspicious package being sent from Medan to Walantaka District, Serang City.

The Director of the Banten Regional Police Drugs Criminal Investigation Unit, Senior Superintendent Wiwin Setiawan, explained that following up on the information, investigators immediately coordinated with the courier service and implemented a control delivery method to confirm the recipient's identity and uncover the network involved. 

After the package was received by the suspect, identified as ZM, the team immediately made the arrest.

"The investigation revealed 195 vape cartridges suspected of containing Etomidate, consisting of 150 Squid Game-branded cartridges and 45 Thugs-branded cartridges. All of the evidence was disguised in Aceh coffee packaging to mislead officers," said Wiwin on Monday (6/29/2026).

In addition to securing the package, he said, investigators also searched the suspect's residence and found other drugs evidence that the suspect admitted to using. Based on preliminary investigation results, ZM acted as a courier, receiving the package before delivering it to another recipient, allegedly in Central Java.

Investigators are continuing to investigate to identify the next recipient and the network controller who allegedly sent the goods from Medan. The value of the seized evidence is estimated at nearly IDR 1 billion.

"We suspect the goods originated from abroad and entered through Medan before being sent to various regions using courier services. This method is of serious concern because it uses delivery services to evade authorities," said Wiwin.

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