A 22-year-old Malaysian man has been arrested in Medan, Indonesia, after he was allegedly involved in trafficking electronic cigarettes containing drugs.
The suspect was detained last week together with his 35-year-old Indonesian girlfriend, with police seizing a total of 29 vape devices believed to contain drug-laced liquid.
According to Antara News, the pair were arrested at a car park along Jalan Cemara, Percut Sei Tuan, in Deli Serdang. Medan City Police Narcotics Investigation chief Assistant Commissioner Rafli Yusuf Nugraha said officers initially found 24 suspected drug-filled vape devices inside a backpack in their car.
The arrests followed intelligence received by the Medan City Police Narcotics Investigation Unit regarding a man and woman allegedly involved in distributing vapes containing drugs.
Police subsequently searched the couple’s rented residence along Jalan PWS in Medan Petisah and discovered another five suspected drug-filled vape devices. Officers also seized about RM15,000 in cash kept inside a safe, which police believe may have been proceeds from drug sales.
Rafli said investigators believed the Malaysian suspect and the Indonesian woman had met through social media before eventually meeting in Malaysia, where they allegedly agreed to distribute drugs in Medan.
Investigations found that the Malaysian man had allegedly brought 20 vape devices containing drugs from Malaysia in July. All of the devices were reportedly sold with assistance from his girlfriend, mainly to her acquaintances in Medan.
Police believe the suspect concealed the vape devices between folds of clothing before placing them inside luggage to smuggle them into Indonesia.
For a subsequent shipment, he allegedly brought another 40 suspected drug-filled vape devices from Malaysia using the same method. Police believe the 29 devices seized during the latest operation were the remaining units from that shipment.
Both suspects also tested positive for drugs in urine screening, according to Rafli.
Indonesian police are continuing to investigate the case to identify the alleged suppliers and distribution network operating in Medan. The authorities also plan to coordinate with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to track down individuals in Malaysia believed to be supplying the drugs or acting as masterminds behind the operation.
Rafli said the investigation remains ongoing as police work to uncover the wider network connected to the alleged trafficking activity.
