Is Ephedrine legal in Brunei?

Legal status

Regulated as a chemical PRECURSOR (1988 UN Convention Table I — a methamphetamine precursor), NOT as a scheduled narcotic; controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap. 27) controlled-substances framework + Poisons Act; not a First-Schedule Class-A drug.

Consequences if caught

No capital exposure — the MDA capital trafficking penalty attaches to First-Schedule controlled drugs, not precursors; ephedrine is in the separate precursor regime.

If prescribed or medical

Also a pharmacy/prescription decongestant-bronchodilator medicine subject to sales limits; carry documentation for a personal supply.

Documentation

Brunei imposes a MANDATORY death penalty for drug trafficking under the Misuse of Drugs Act (Chapter 27, Revised Edition 2001; death penalty added December 1982; amended 2013), administered by the Narcotics Control Bureau. Possession above the named capital thresholds is presumed to be trafficking (Sec 15): more than 15 g of heroin/morphine, more than 30 g of cocaine, more than 50 g of methamphetamine, more than 500 g of cannabis, or more than 1.2 kg of opium. Separately, a 2013 amendment sets a LOWER cannabis trafficking-PRESUMPTION trigger at more than 15 g of cannabis or more than 10 g of resin — this is the trafficking-presumption trigger, NOT the death threshold (which remains more than 500 g of cannabis); do not conflate them. A keys-to-premises or keys-to-vehicle possession presumption also applies. Possession or consumption (Sec 6) of cannabis draws up to 10 years and/or a fine of about US$20,000 (documented cases reached about 20 years plus caning before a death sentence). Cultivation (Sec 8) draws 3–20 years plus a fine, and caning attaches. All drugs are prohibited; there is no medical or recreational cannabis, and CBD is not assumed legal. Carry any controlled medicine with its prescription and confirm requirements with your embassy before travel.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Brunei’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.