Hsinchu police earlier this year busted the largest marijuana-growing operation in the nation’s history, seizing more than NT$2 billion (US$62.17 million) worth of product, the police announced today.
The Hsinchu Police Bureau in a raid on May 23 seized 4,519 marijuana plants, 1,666 seeds, lighting fixtures, temperature control systems, irrigation equipment and other greenhouse facilities, bureau chief Chiu Shao-chou (邱紹洲) said today.
Officers also discovered a 1,000-ping (3,300km²) cleanroom and other high-end production lines, showing that it was a sophisticated operation with significant investment seeking to supply the market at scale, he said.
Photo courtesy of the Hsinchu Police Bureau
In terms of the number of plants seized, it was the biggest cannabis bust in the nation’s history, Chiu said.
After four months of further investigation, police identified a person surnamed Chih (池) with a background in organized crime as the suspected leader of the operation, along with eight other suspects, the bureau said, adding that they were indicted last month.
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) has funded short-term internships in Taiwan for more than 4,500 young people from more than 40 countries since 2015, with the goal of attracting and retaining international talent, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. Fifty-five colleges launched 514 projects this year, including in fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, medicine and biotechnology, green energy, and sustainability, it said. The program provides research and practical internships in Taiwan for two to six months, and offers cultural exchange and networking opportunities, the ministry said. For example, National Formosa University’s Embedded System and Autopilot Laboratory developed two solar-powered drones in
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