The National Police Administration's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) yesterday arrested the nation's most wanted suspect for Ecstasy dealing, Chang Dao-ming (章道明), and six suspected partners who allegedly sold a variety of illicit narcotics and aphrodisiacs on the Internet.
According to the CIB, Chang's group consisted of seven other drug dealers -- Chang's younger brother, Chang Dao-an (
Police officers from the CIB yesterday arrested all of the suspects except Chang Dao-an, who is still at large. The CIB says that he has escaped to Peru and travels frequently between Peru and Brazil.
According to the CIB, two of the three women in the group, Lee and Hsu, are romantically involved with Chang Dao-ming and live with him at two separate locations. But the investigators said neither Lee nor Hsu knows about the other's relationship with Chang Dao-ming.
Police also found more than 10,000 Ecstasy pills, approximately 2,000 FM2 pills and various illicit aphrodisiacs at the seven suspects' residences. FM2 is a tasteless, odorless drug with sedative effects that is commonly referred to as a "date-rape drug."
The police said that the group, led by Chang Dao-ming, sold the drugs and aphrodisiacs under such names as "Horny Coffee" and "Spanish Fly."
Chang Dao-an, they said, had established a Chinese-language Web site aimed at the Taiwan market called "sonla.com" in Peru, but took orders in Brazil by e-mail from Taiwanese buyers who were asked to remit their payments to a bank account operated by Chang in the US.
When payments had been made, the dealers sent the orders to the buyers in Taiwan by prompt or express delivery.
The CIB began to investigate the case in November 2000.
"It was difficult for us to find where they were since they established the Web site, accepted the invoices and cashed the money in three different countries," said CIB Commissioner Cheng Ching-sung (
"Chang Dao-ming was the most wanted Ecstasy dealer. Other than selling drugs on the Internet, he also allegedly sold Ecstasy pills at local karaoke parlors and nightclubs."
The seven, who were arrested yesterday morning, must be charged within 24 hours or they will have to be released.
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