inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The North Sumatra Regional Police's Drug Criminal Investigation Directorate has uncovered a drug trafficking operation in an apartment in Putri Hijau, Medan. The drugs were in the form of vapes, or electronic cigarettes.
The Director of the North Sumatra Regional Police's Drug Criminal Investigation Unit, Senior Superintendent Jean Calvijn Simanjuntak, explained that the case was uncovered after the report of sale and purchase of electronic cigarettes containing narcotics in Medan. The promotion and transactions of these vapes were conducted using social media.
"It started with information from the public about the large amount of vape liquid circulating in North Sumatra, and its marketing in social media," said Calvijn in his statement on Tuesday (7/8/2025).
Following on the information, police then conducted a series of investigations and secured a package of vape drugs delivered by an online motorcycle taxi driver in a hotel parking area on Sei Belutu street, Medan Baru in June.
This evidence led investigators to dismantle the drug production factory located in an apartment in the Putri Hijau area.
At the apartment, police arrested two suspects, AS (37) and JH (41). Calvijn said that when they were arrested, the two suspects were about to deliver two packages of drugs via courier service.
"At the time of the arrest, the suspects were about to deliver their two drugs via JNE to Medan," said Calvijn.
At the scene, police seized 2,965 cartridges containing liquid containing Class I narcotics and NPS drugs under the RICCAT MILLE brand, and 35 unpackaged cartridges containing liquid containing Class I narcotics and NPS drugs under the RICCAT MILLE brand.
Police also seized raw materials for Class I narcotics and NPS drugs, capable of producing 60,000 cartridges.
In addition, police confiscated solvents, general chemicals, laboratory equipment, raw materials and precursors for Class I narcotics and NPS, liquids, flavorings, and sweeteners for making liquids, waste products and recycling experiments, as well as various packaging boxes, cartridges, pods, and devices.
According to the suspects' confessions, they were controlled by individuals identified as JB and RR. They were given an initial operating fee of Rp 50 million.
(ad/ndt/pr/rs)
