Ho Chi Minh City police seize 1,670 e-cigarette pods containing etomidate

Police officers said on Wednesday that it had dismantled a major operation involving the trafficking and organized use of etomidate disguised as e-cigarette pods.

Dozens arrested, etomidate-laced vape pods seized

Police opened an investigation after receiving a heads-up about a man known as 'Ba Gia,' who was suspected of selling e-cigarette pods containing etomidate in An Lac Ward.

On June 25, investigators caught the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Nguyen Huu Huan, and his wife, Ngo Thi Kim Chi, 30, allegedly selling the drug-laced pods to customers.

Information obtained from Huan led police to expand the operation and uncover several related trafficking networks, including one headed by Huynh Ngoc Thuy Nhu.

Authorities also identified a separate ring operated by Le Quoc Duy, who was accused of receiving etomidate-laced pods smuggled from Cambodia through unofficial border crossings in An Giang Province before transporting them to Ho Chi Minh City for distribution.

Further investigation uncovered another network allegedly led by Cambodian national Han Kiat. Police said the group supplied the pods to foreigners who organized illegal drug use in the city.

Police have so far detained 49 suspects, including four nationals of South Korea, China, and Cambodia, for investigation into alleged drug trafficking or organizing the illegal use of narcotics.

Large quantities of ketamine and methamphetamine, along with 1,670 e-cigarette pod cartridges containing etomidate, were seized.

Warnings over health risks and legal consequences

Etomidate is a short-acting medical anesthetic that can cause severe dizziness, loss of motor control, and cardiovascular collapse when abused or consumed in uncontrolled doses.

Vietnam officially banned the production, trade, import, and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products starting January 1, 2025.

The seizure of 1,670 etomidate-laced e-cigarette pods highlights the alarming spread of drugs concealed in increasingly sophisticated forms.

Had they not been detected in time, the products could have made their way into bars, karaoke parlors, apartments and guesthouses, as well as areas frequented by schoolchildren, university students, and young people.

Many users may not realize they are being exposed to drugs, believing the fruit- or mint-flavored products are ordinary e-cigarettes marketed as less harmful and capable of producing only a relaxing effect.

Dealers exploit this lack of awareness by promoting the products under names such as 'chill pods,' 'relaxation pods,' 'sleep pods,' and 'flying pods' to conceal their true nature and attract users.

Even a single puff taken out of curiosity, a desire to experiment or pressure to fit in with friends could lead to serious consequences, police warned.

Etomidate concealed in the pods can be addictive and life-threatening, particularly when combined with alcohol or sedatives, while repeated use may suppress adrenal gland function, police said.

Some users may become complacent after receiving negative results from rapid drug tests, although etomidate has been classified as a prohibited narcotic.