Two Malaysian nationals have been indicted in Taiwan for smuggling nearly 3kg of heroin with an estimated street value of more than NT$30 million (US$983,011), the Aviation Police Bureau said.
The bureau told reporters yesterday that the two men were invited to Taiwan by a drug trafficking group, which offered them payment to carry the Category One narcotic into the country.
In June, the Taipei branch of the Customs Administration and the bureau's Security Inspection Squad noticed a suspicious bag while conducting an X-ray screening of baggage arriving from Malaysia.
Photo courtesy of Aviation Police Bureau
According to the bureau's Criminal Investigation Division, one of the suspects, a man in his 20s identified as “J,” admitted to police that he had traveled to Taiwan with another Malaysian, “D.”
J told police that D asked him to collect the luggage while D entered Taiwan first, the investigators said.
The bureau said D was intercepted by customs and police officers, and afterward they opened the luggage and found 2.981kg of heroin.
Chen Po-chuan (陳博全), head of the division’s second investigation squad, said surveillance footage showed J taking a taxi to a hotel in Taoyuan’s Jhongli District (中壢) after entering the country.
Chen said a task force formed by the bureau and the Taoyuan Police Department’s Zhongli and Pingjhen precincts executed an arrest warrant the same day, apprehending J at the hotel and seizing a mobile phone they claim was used to communicate with other suspects.
According to police, the two men told investigators that they had known each other in Malaysia and found the job opportunity through an online post advertising part-time work.
They said they were promised a free three-day, two-night trip to Taiwan and NT$35,000 each to bring the goods into the country, with someone arranged to collect the items after their arrival.
The bureau said the case was transferred to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office for prosecution under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act (毒品危害防制條例).
The bureau warned that anyone found guilty of manufacturing, transporting, or selling Category One narcotics in Taiwan faces the death penalty or life imprisonment, and that life sentences may include a fine of up to NT$30 million.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS