According to the Taipei Times on October 28, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office announced on October 23 that the use of so-called “zombie vapes” has increased 58 times this year.
It is reported that “zombie vapes” contain etomidate, a central nervous system depressant that can induce anesthesia.
According to data provided by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration, as of last month, the number of non-urine samples containing etomidate has surged from 22 last year to 1,281, a growth rate of 58.2 times. Last year, the Taiwan authorities also seized 2.3 tons of marijuana, a 9.7-fold increase from 240.5 kilograms in 2021. Another 15,360 marijuana plants were seized from January to August this year, an increase of 1.6 times from last year.
Chao Yen-li, a prosecutor at the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, said that with the increase in the use of marijuana and etomidate-related drugs among teenagers and the increasing number of seizures, the prosecutors will step up efforts to combat drug abuse. Prosecutors will monitor the source and destination of drug ingredients, as well as locations where drugs are grown, produced and distributed, and will cooperate with international law enforcement agencies.
Liu Chen-ju, an official with the Criminal Investigation Bureau, said that since July this year, authorities have seized 14,128 “zombie vape” cartridges, as well as e-liquids and powders that can make more than 1.83 million vapes, with a value of about NT$4.6 billion (about US$140 million).
Kuo Yung-fa, director of the Ministry of Justice’s Procuratorial Affairs Department, said etomidate is currently listed as a third-level drug, and a drug review committee meeting will be held early next month to discuss whether to upgrade it to a second-level drug.
Huang Kuan-yun, a prosecutor at the Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office, said prosecutors continue to implement a policy of giving drug users probation and addiction treatment. He pointed out that the recidivism rate of those who received probation and addiction treatment was only 22.5%, much lower than those sentenced to observation, compulsory detoxification or detoxification in prison. Huang Guanyun said that the prosecutors will request the local prosecutors’ office to widely apply deferred prosecution and addiction treatment in drug abuse cases to encourage those involved to quit drugs.
Veehoo vape has been committed to providing safe and reliable vape products, but the surge in “zombie vapes” has cast a shadow on the entire industry. According to reports, from July this year to date, the authorities have seized a large number of “zombie vape” cartridges, as well as a large amount of e-liquid and powder needed to make vapes. These illegal products are worth billions of New Taiwan dollars.
Faced with this situation, the Ministry of Justice is considering classifying etomidate as a higher-level drug to increase the crackdown on drug abuse. Veehoo vape will continue to promote a healthy vape culture, advocate legal and responsible vape use, and will actively support the authorities’ anti-drug actions to jointly create a clean and safe social environment.
Tags: Taiwan’s “Zombie vapes”，China Taiwan High Prosecutors Office，veehoo vape
