Jakarta. Indonesian police have uncovered a clandestine laboratory producing etomidate, a drug increasingly associated with illicit vape products, inside an apartment in North Jakarta and arrested six foreign nationals suspected of smuggling etomidate powder from Malaysia.

The operation was carried out by the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) in cooperation with customs officials at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, police said.

The six suspects — five Malaysian nationals and one Chinese national — were arrested at a hotel in West Jakarta after allegedly bringing powder containing etomidate from Malaysia into Indonesia.

Investigators subsequently searched an apartment in Ancol, Pademangan, where they found equipment used to produce liquid etomidate along with other materials, according to police.

Police also seized five pairs of shoes allegedly belonging to the suspects. About five kilograms of powder suspected of containing etomidate had been concealed inside the soles, police said.

The powder was estimated to be worth Rp127.5 billion ($7.5 million). Investigators believe the suspects transported it by air from Malaysia to Indonesia after hiding it inside the shoes.

Police also seized 85 liters of liquid raw materials allegedly intended for vape liquid production, as well as about 21,000 empty vape pods and cartridge packaging.

AKBP Ivan Adhitira, head of Unit 3 of the National Police's Narcotics Crime Directorate, said the case was uncovered through cooperation between Bareskrim Polri and customs officials at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

"From this operation, we arrested six foreign nationals and subsequently searched an apartment in the Ancol area," Ivan said.

Investigators are now working to identify the wider network behind the operation and are searching for a woman known by the nickname "Madam."

Ivan said the woman, who is also believed to be a foreign national, allegedly acted as the network's controller.

The six suspects and the seized evidence have been taken to National Police headquarters for further questioning and investigation.

Police are investigating each suspect's role, the origin of the raw materials and the wider network allegedly operating the clandestine etomidate laboratory.

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