Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City arrested 65 people, including four Singaporeans, for allegedly trafficking e-cigarette pods infused with the anesthetic drug etomidate.

Police in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, have arrested 65 individuals as part of a crackdown on a drug trafficking network that sold e-cigarette pods laced with narcotics. Among those detained are ten foreign nationals, including four Singaporeans, four Malaysians, and two Taiwanese citizens. Authorities identified 30-year-old Singaporean Melvin Tan Junjie and 30-year-old Malaysian Hoo Jia How as the alleged ringleaders of the operation.

Investigation and Raids

Police began investigating the network in early July after detecting suspicious activity. Following weeks of surveillance, officers raided a rented house in the Cau Ong Lanh ward, where they arrested Tan and Hoo. During the raid, authorities seized 1,331 e-cigarette cartridges and 140ml of liquid infused with etomidate. A third Singaporean, Oh Jang Fong, was subsequently arrested on accusations of supplying the etomidate liquid used to fill the pods. Further operations led to the dismantling of two additional distribution networks, bringing the total number of arrests to 65.

Nature of the Drug

Etomidate is a medical anesthetic that was classified as a narcotic in Vietnam earlier this year. When inhaled, the substance is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, causing effects such as extreme drowsiness, dizziness, impaired awareness, and slurred speech. In severe cases, the drug can be fatal. The trafficking group allegedly injected the substance into e-cigarette pods for sale to both Vietnamese and foreign customers, some of whom reportedly resold the products or organized drug use.