Jakarta. Jakarta police have dismantled a clandestine drug laboratory producing the illegal substance etomidate inside a residential apartment complex in North Jakarta, arresting two suspects, including a Chinese national, authorities said.

The operation was uncovered at Greenbay Apartment in Pluit, North Jakarta, adding to a growing list of cases involving illicit drug production in residential buildings.

Police identified the suspects as a Chinese citizen with the initials HW and an Indonesian national identified as D. Both are believed to have played key roles in the planned production and distribution of the narcotics, said Adjunct Chief Commissioner Parikhesit from the Narcotics Directorate of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police.

Parikhesit said the investigation began after intelligence from customs officials at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport flagged a suspicious international shipment believed to contain materials and equipment commonly used in drug manufacturing.

“The package was found to contain narcotic materials and laboratory equipment destined for the lobby of Tower H at Greenbay Apartment,” he said.

Following the tip-off, police launched surveillance operations, tracking the shipment and monitoring the movements of the intended recipients. The two suspects were arrested at the apartment complex on Jan. 9.

During the search, officers seized a FedEx shipment containing 100 grams of etomidate, along with other chemical substances, including 1 kilogram of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Police also confiscated laboratory equipment believed to be used in the production of liquid narcotics, including glass stirring rods, digital scales, syringes, stainless steel pans, and glass tubes of various sizes.

Further investigation revealed that the laboratory equipment had been shipped from India, while HW allegedly served as the main chemist responsible for formulating the etomidate. The Indonesian suspect, D, is believed to have assisted with operations and provided the location.

“Based on our preliminary analysis, the clandestine lab was capable of producing up to 30 liters of liquid etomidate,” Parikhesit said.

Police estimate that, once converted into retail-ready products — assuming each cartridge contains about 2 milliliters — the operation could have produced as many as 15,000 etomidate pods for distribution.

Authorities said the lab was dismantled before it became fully operational, preventing the circulation of a large quantity of narcotics that could have posed serious public health risks, particularly to young people.

Both suspects and all seized evidence are currently being held at Jakarta police headquarters for further investigation. Police are also probing possible international networks and other parties involved in sourcing materials and planning the distribution of the drug.

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