Jakarta Police dismantle Rp1 billion synthetic tobacco operation

Police from the West Jakarta Metro Police have uncovered a home-based synthetic tobacco production operation in South Tangerang. Authorities seized 15 grams of synthetic material worth Rp21 million, which has the potential to be processed into approximately 500 milliliters of synthetic liquid.

This liquid can be used to produce between 900 grams and one kilogram of synthetic tobacco, with an estimated market value of approximately Rp1 billion. According to investigators, the synthetic material was purchased via an Instagram account. The liquid was intended to be sold at a rate of Rp500,000 per 5 milliliters.

Four suspects—identified by the initials MR (25), IN (26), NK (26), and AL—were arrested during the operation. The arrests took place in the Bintaro Jaya and Pondok Aren areas of South Tangerang. A third individual, identified as II, remains on the wanted list.