How can Malaysia address drug syndicates exploiting vape liquids without a blanket ban?

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Malaysia can tackle drug syndicates exploiting vape liquids by focusing enforcement on criminal networks rather than imposing a blanket vape ban.

Police disclosed that the dangerous synthetic drug “Piu Piu” was reportedly being mixed into vape liquids, prompting Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay to call for an immediate ban of vaping devices. The argument against a blanket ban is that it targets a visible symptom instead of the underlying problem: drug syndicates willing to exploit any product to distribute dangerous substances. The core approach described is to treat “Piu Piu” mixing as a law enforcement issue and to pursue measures that do not remove legal, regulated vape options from the market.
Target the syndicates rather than the vape device
The key point is that the threat is not the vape device itself, but the syndicate that mixes harmful chemicals into vape liquids. If criminals are adding psychoactive substances to vape products, that is framed first and foremost as a law enforcement problem. This shifts the focus from banning devices to confronting the groups responsible for trafficking and distribution.
Avoid blanket bans that push users toward unregulated markets
The concern raised is that banning vape products could create an appearance of decisive action while doing little to address root causes. It also risks pushing existing users toward the black market, where products are unregulated and harder to monitor. In that scenario, harmful substances could continue to circulate without the oversight that comes with legal and regulated products.
Preserve harm-reduction options for adult smokers
The discussion notes that vaping is not risk-free, but some adult smokers have used it as an alternative to quit cigarettes, including through heated tobacco. Removing legal and regulated vape products could leave some users with fewer options. At the same time, it can create opportunities for illicit operators to thrive in an unregulated space.
Use enforcement intensity like other countries’ mixed outcomes inform policy
The text points to mixed results from Australia’s earlier approach to restricting underage access to social media, where millions of underage accounts might be removed on paper but users still found ways around restrictions. That experience is used to underline why blanket restrictions may fail to stop underlying behaviour. Applied to “Piu Piu”, the emphasis remains on direct action against syndicates, rather than broad bans that do not stop illegal mixing.

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How can Malaysia address drug syndicates exploiting vape liquids without a blanket ban?

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