Selling Drug-Substitute E-cigarettes: Hubei Chibi Police Crack Down, 22 Arrested

Etomidate is a white powdery substance that is insoluble in water, has sedative-hypnotic activity, and can produce anesthetic effects with increased dosage. It is a short-acting non-barbiturate intravenous anesthetic primarily used for general anesthesia induction and can also be used for short-term surgical anesthesia.<\/p>

In recent years, some criminals have exploited etomidate to create "high" e-cigarettes as a substitute for drugs for profit, and these "high" e-cigarettes are comparable to drugs, causing dizziness, mental confusion, and in severe cases, can lead to shock, suffocation, or even sudden death after consumption.<\/p>

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E-liquids containing etomidate<\/strong><\/p>

On August 17 and 18, the Chibi City Public Security Bureau tracked and captured 22 individuals involved in the use and sale of e-cigarettes containing etomidate, dismantling two groups involved in the use and sale of "high" etomidate e-cigarettes, with 7 criminally detained and 15 administratively punished.<\/p>

Peeling back the layers, a "poisonous tree" was uprooted by the police<\/strong><\/p>

"Are there any ways to make money?" "Nitrous oxide is no longer viable; the crackdown is very strict." "I have a way to buy etomidate; we can make high e-cigarettes." "I’ll drive and pay; you handle the procurement and sales." Two men were planning to make money in an e-sports hotel. Soon, they procured the goods, repackaged them, and began selling in Chibi, with costs of several dozen yuan, selling for 300 to 350 yuan.<\/p>

With huge profits, the two became reckless and began looking for middlemen to sell, leading to an increase in users of "high" e-cigarettes. Some users, unable to afford them, resorted to selling their bank cards and phone cards (suspected of aiding and abetting) to raise money for purchases, but these individuals had already been targeted by the police.<\/p>

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Arrest scene<\/strong><\/p>

Recently, the Chibi City Public Security Bureau discovered illegal buying and selling of e-cigarettes containing etomidate in the area. The police immediately organized an investigation, and after gathering reliable information, launched an arrest operation on the morning of August 17, capturing 8 suspects at a hotel in the urban area.<\/p>

The police quickly conducted intensive interrogations, peeling back layers of information, and based on the leads obtained during the interrogations, continued to arrest suspects from the morning of the 17th until the early hours of the 18th, ultimately capturing 22 suspects.
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Illegal profits of tens of thousands, 7 criminally detained and 15 administratively punished<\/strong><\/p>

"This type of 'etomidate' is classified as a narcotic and can cause serious harm to the body," the investigating officer told reporters. With the increased crackdown on traditional drugs, the prices of traditional drugs have become relatively high, leading some individuals to use etomidate as a substitute for methamphetamine and ketamine due to its low price and similar hallucinogenic effects, as it has not yet been regulated.<\/p>

According to investigations, since July, suspects Liu and Chen learned that selling e-cigarettes containing etomidate was highly profitable, and without obtaining the necessary medical business licenses and qualifications, illegally purchased etomidate from another province, brought it back to Chibi for processing, and repackaged it into e-cigarette cartridges for sale, profiting over 20,000 yuan.<\/p>

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Criminal detention according to the law<\/p>

Since August 10, suspects Wang and Nie purchased finished and semi-finished "high" e-cigarettes containing etomidate from a supplier in a neighboring county and repackaged and sold them in Chibi City. They lured individuals Deng, Zeng, and Zhu with high commissions to sell them, profiting over 20,000 yuan.<\/p>

Currently, Liu, Chen, Wang, Nie, and others have been criminally detained for suspected violations of drug management laws, and 15 users have been administratively punished. The case is under further investigation.
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Although etomidate is not classified as a drug, its harmful effects after consumption are equivalent to those of drugs and can easily lead to other illegal activities. The police remind the public to be vigilant and not to try etomidate or similar "high" substances lightly, and if already inadvertently involved, to seek help and treatment from professional hospitals as soon as possible.<\/p>