Police Seize 1,000 'Zombie' Vapes in Hat Yai Raid
Police in Hat Yai, Songkhla, arrested two Malaysian men and seized over 1,000 'Zombie' e-cigarette pods laced with the sedative etomidate, worth more than 1 million baht. The suspects allegedly mixed the drug into vape pods at a rented house and distributed them to teenagers. Authorities warn that inhaling etomidate causes rapid central nervous system depression, leading to stiffness, unconsciousness, and severe health risks.
Narcotics Suppression Bureau and Region 437 Border Patrol Police raided a gang secretly selling 'Zombie' e-cigarettes that cause 'stiff, rigid, glazed eyes but unconscious' effects, seizing 1,000 items worth 1 million baht and warning of severe health risks.
On October 20, 2026, Pol. Maj. Gen. Natthasak Chaowanat, Deputy Commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, ordered Pol. Col. Kritsadaporn Panprong, Superintendent of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, Pol. Lt. Col. Kirawit Saentawisuk, Commander of Division 1, and Pol. Maj. Anan Buakaew, Deputy Superintendent of Division 1, together with Region 437 Border Patrol Police officers, to arrest Mr. Nat, 46, and Mr. Sam, 51, both Malaysian nationals. They were apprehended with evidence including 400 e-cigarette pods mixed with etomidate, 201 empty pods, 725 pod end-cap components, 2 bags of white plastic pod caps, and 6 bottles of essential oil for mixing, totaling over 1,000 items valued at more than 1 million baht.
The operation began after police received a tip that individuals were secretly distributing e-cigarette liquid containing etomidate, known as 'Zombie pods,' to teenagers in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, using a sedan for delivery and a rented house on Suphasarnwongsawan Road as a mixing and packing site.
Officers spotted the suspect vehicle on Ratthakan Road in front of Erawan Gold Shop in Hat Yai. They stopped the car, driven by Mr. Nat, and found 400 pods labeled as containing etomidate. Mr. Nat confessed he was delivering the pods on orders from Mr. Sam, a Malaysian national. He then led police to the rented house in Soi 4, Suphasarnwongsawan Road, where Mr. Sam was arrested along with additional evidence.
Pol. Maj. Anan Buakaew stated that etomidate-laced e-cigarettes are popular abroad and must be strictly suppressed to prevent spread in Thailand. Both suspects confessed and revealed another Malaysian national supplied the equipment and mixing chemicals from overseas. The suspects' role was to inject etomidate solution into empty pods, seal them, and deliver to customers as directed by their employer, who is still under investigation.
Police initially charged them with jointly selling a Category 2 psychotropic substance by possession for sale without permission, and offenses related to selling e-cigarettes, which are prohibited from production, sale, or service under the Consumer Protection Act and related orders. The suspects and evidence were handed to Hat Yai Police Station for further legal action.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Natthasak warned the public, especially youth, to beware of e-cigarettes laced with etomidate (a medical sedative). Inhaling it rapidly depresses the central nervous system, causing stiffness, rigid immobility, glazed eyes, and loss of consciousness, posing severe health dangers. He added that producing or possessing such substances for sale without a license is illegal, and urged anyone with information about illicit production or distribution to report it.
