Ho Chi Minh City police break up foreign-led etomidate pod trafficking ring
Vietnamese police in Ho Chi Minh City have dismantled multiple trafficking networks that manufactured and sold e‑cigarette pods laced with the potent anesthetic etomidate. The operation, led by the Department of Public Security’s drug‑crime investigation team (Team 5) under Lieutenant Colonel Tran Vo Nhat Cuong, targeted three rings directed by foreign nationals from Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan.
Around 70 suspects were arrested in coordinated raids on 17 July, the largest single‑day haul in the city’s drug‑crime history. Police seized 1,331 pod heads, about 140 ml of etomidate oil, and close to 2,000 completed pods. In total 65 individuals have been charged, including 10 foreigners (four Singaporean, four Malaysian, two Taiwanese). The pods were assembled in rented houses on Cống Quỳnh street in the Cầu Ông Lãnh ward and were sold to both Vietnamese and foreign users. Vietnam plans to ban the production, trade, import and use of e‑cigarettes from 1 January 2025. Authorities estimate that each etomidate‑laced pod generated profits of VND 1‑1.5 million (US$38‑57).
Entities: Ab Rahaman Arsad · Country Garden Holdings · Etomidate · Forest City development · Ho Chi Minh City Police · Malaysia · Singapore · Tran Vo Nhat Cuong
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Vietnam will ban production, trade, import and use of e‑cigarettes from 1 January 2025. (Government regulation)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Around 2,000 etomidate‑laden pods were seized in total. (Police reports)
- [● 4 SOURCES] 65 suspects were charged, including 10 foreign nationals (four Singapore, four Malaysian, two Taiwanese). (Prosecutorial filing)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The operation resulted in the arrest of nearly 70 suspects, the highest number ever detained in a single probe. (Police reports)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Each etomidate‑laced pod generated profits of VND 1–1.5 million (US$38‑57). (Police estimate)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ho Chi Minh City police busted three trafficking rings of e‑cigarette pods containing etomidate led by foreign nationals. (Police statements)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The trafficking operations were based in rented houses on Cống Quỳnh street, Cầu Ông Lãnh ward, Ho Chi Minh City. (Investigation details)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Police seized 1,331 pod heads containing etomidate and 140 ml of etomidate oil. (Investigation findings)