10 foreigners, including Singaporeans, arrested in Vietnam for running Kpod trafficking ring

Ho Chi Minh City police in Vietnam have dismantled a significant drug trafficking operation, arresting 65 people, including 10 foreign nationals, for allegedly distributing e-cigarettes laced with the anesthetic etomidate. The substance, when mixed into vape liquid, creates products known as Kpods, which authorities warn can induce zombie-like behavior, seizures, and psychotic episodes in users.

The arrested foreigners include four Singaporeans, four Malaysians, and two Taiwanese citizens. Malaysian national Hoo Jia How, 30, and Singaporean Melvin Tan Junjie, 30, are identified by police as the alleged ringleaders of the network. The investigation commenced in early July following surveillance that uncovered the operation. A raid on a rented house led to the initial arrests and the seizure of 1,331 e-cigarette cartridges and 140ml of etomidate-infused liquid.

Further investigations led to the arrest of another Singaporean, Oh Jang Fong, accused of supplying the etomidate liquid. The group is alleged to have injected the drug into e-cigarette pods before distributing them through local dealers to both Vietnamese and foreign customers. Some buyers were reportedly reselling the Kpods or organizing drug use sessions.

In total, authorities seized nearly 2,000 drug-laced e-cigarette cartridges and 140ml of etomidate liquid across multiple raids that dismantled two additional distribution networks. Etomidate, a medical anesthetic, has seen increasing abuse when mixed into e-cigarette liquids. Vietnam officially classified the substance as a narcotic earlier in 2026.

Authorities issued a warning about the dangers of inhaling etomidate, noting that while it may initially cause relaxation and euphoria, it can lead to severe symptoms including drowsiness, impaired awareness, slowed reflexes, loss of coordination, seizures, respiratory depression, low blood pressure, and potentially death. The products were reportedly marketed with misleading claims such as "won't show up on drug tests" and "not a narcotic," creating a false sense of security among users. The investigation is ongoing.