Taipei, Kaohsiung begin crackdown on drug-using clubbers

Taipei and Kaohsiung city police cracked down on Ecstasy users at local dance clubs, bars and karaokes yesterday.

In Taipei City, the Wanhua Precinct, Ta-an Precinct, Sungshan Precinct and Chungshan Precinct all sent out police officers to raid local night clubs and brought 14 people, including club employees, back to police stations around 2am to administer urine and HIV tests.

Among them, 11 were transferred to the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office (台北地檢署) for further investigation after they tested positive for the drug.

In Kaohsiung City, Prosecutor Chen Cheng-ta (陳正達) led a team of police officers to raid a Cashbox KTV and the Enjoy the Moment KTV where they detained 28 people, who later tested positive for Ecstasy, including one person who was found to be in possession of 68 Ecstasy pills. The detainees were brought to the Hsinhsing Precinct for drug tests and blood tests for HIV at around 5am.

"According to our sources, there has been an increase in recreational drug use, especially with Ecstasy, in the Kaohsiung metropolitan area recently," said Chu Nan (朱楠), the prosecutor-general of the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office (高雄地檢署).

"Prosecutor Chen has successfully organized more than 20 raids and has had more than 2,000 drug users arrested since March."

The police said that yesterday's raid in Taipei and Kaohsiung is just the beginning of their crackdown against Ecstasy users and dealers.

The Department of Health (DOH, 衛生署) is concerned that Ecstasy users may soon have a higher risk of contracting HIV. From January to May, the DOH has reported five people who tested positive for HIV and all of them have used Ecstasy before.

"In the past, most people who tested positive for HIV or developed full blown AIDS were homosexuals. Recently, more and more Ecstasy, users have tested positive which worries us a lot," said Ou Nai-ming (歐乃銘), a section chief at the DOH's Center for Disease Control (CDC, 疾病管制局).

He said that most Ecstasy users became quite excited after taking the drug. After users "get high," an Ecstasy party could end up as a sex party, and most users don't remember what they've done when they woke up, Ou said.

"Unfortunately, we don't have the right to ask these HIV-positive people not to have sex, not to party," Ou said.

According to the police, many popular night clubs have moved to the top floor or the basement of department stores or commercial buildings because it is easier for owners to get a business license approved if the clubs are a part of a department store or commercial building.

"Usually, department stores and commercial buildings have their licenses already. All the shops or stores inside the buildings have to do before they can begin doing business is pass a fire inspection," he said.