October 9, 2025 – Yunlin County, Taiwan
Etomidate, a Class II controlled substance commonly referred to as “zombie cigarette cartridges,” is rapidly spreading among young people in Taiwan. Authorities in Yunlin County have launched a large-scale crackdown after a mother reported her son’s addiction to the dangerous drug, leading to the arrest of four suspects.
According to the Yunlin County Police Department, between September 5 and 26, police units across the county conducted a special anti-drug operation targeting etomidate users and dealers. The operation resulted in the seizure of 97 cases involving 111 individuals across Yunlin and neighboring areas. Officers confiscated over 2,500 grams of etomidate e-liquid, enough to be repackaged for approximately 25,000 doses, with an estimated market value of NT$50 million.
Wu Shuyu, investigation team leader of the Dounan Branch, shared that the crackdown began when a distressed mother sought help on New Year’s Eve. She told police that her son had fallen in with the wrong crowd, often gathering at home to smoke “zombie cigarettes.” Despite repeated pleas, he refused to quit. Heartbroken, she turned to law enforcement to intervene and help her son break free from addiction.
Yunlin County Criminal Police Brigade Deputy Captain Yang Zhisheng explained that users who inhale “zombie cigarette cartridges” often experience violent muscle spasms, confusion, and even coma. The drug has been linked to numerous vehicular accidents and fatal incidents involving drivers under the influence, prompting authorities to intensify investigations.
During the 20-day operation, police recorded 21 drug trafficking cases involving 32 suspects, 35 cases of drug-impaired driving involving 35 individuals, and 41 cases of possession and use involving 44 individuals.
Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan visited the local police station on Wednesday (October 9) to commend officers for their efforts and present a reward for their successful operation. She expressed both gratitude and concern — thankful for the police’s relentless work in keeping drugs off the streets, but deeply worried about the growing prevalence of etomidate.
“Most of those involved in using or selling these zombie cigarette cartridges are young people in their 20s and 30s,” Chang said. “Because the production process is simple, many illegal drug labs are hidden inside residential areas. I call on the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to help us in this fight against drugs.”
Authorities urged residents to cooperate with law enforcement and emphasized the dangers of new synthetic drugs targeting the youth.