Etomidate is to be upgraded to a Category 1 narcotic, with manufacturing, transporting or selling it to be punishable by death, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said today.
The Executive Yuan today held a cross-ministerial meeting to discuss how it would implement a government-wide crackdown on etomidate, after it was linked to a number of drug-driving incidents over the past few months.
The government is to introduce 14 new measures across three areas: stopping supply of the drug at the source, enhanced enforcement and tougher drug-driving penalties, he said.
Photo copied by Hsu Sheng-lun, Taipei Times
Etomidate, an anesthetic currently scheduled as a Category 2 narcotic, is used to make “zombie vapes,” which leave users feeling disoriented and can cause uncontrollable muscle spasms, sudden blackouts and impaired consciousness.
At the meeting, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) reported on drugs and drug-driving prevention, while the Ministry of the Interior reported on enforcement efforts and outcomes.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) reported on proposed amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (菸害防制法) and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications reported on measures to toughen penalties for driving under the influence of drugs.
Cho instructed the MOJ to convene the Narcotics Review Committee as soon as possible to consider the drug’s reclassification.
The crackdown would also focus on e-cigarettes, with manufacturing, transporting, selling or supplying nicotine vapes to be subject to criminal penalties, and possession to be subject to administrative fines and confiscation, Cho said.
E-cigarette advertisements would also be blocked online and on social media platforms, with heavier penalties introduced, he said.
The MOHW should amend the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act accordingly, while the High Prosecutors’ Office should coordinate anti-drug enforcement systems and improve investigations, Cho said.
International anti-drug cooperation initiatives should also be expanded, he added.
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