The Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday indicted 12 people, including an airport security officer, on suspicion of smuggling more than 9,000 heated tobacco products into Taiwan.
A woman surnamed Yang (楊), 40, along with her mother and nine other suspected, allegedly bribed Aviation Police Bureau officer Chen Po-jung (陳柏融), 28, to help them evade customs, the indictment said.
They were all charged for contravening the Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act (菸酒管理法), while Chen was also charged under the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例).
Photo courtesy of the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office
Customs Administration officials at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport were alerted to Yang, her mother and the other suspects, for avoiding luggage checks several times this year by passing through a special entry gate, allegedly with the aid of Chen, the indictment said.
Yang and her mother were arrested early last month, when they used a special entry gate with assistance from Chen after arriving from South Korea, it said.
Police found more than 500 heated tobacco products in their possession, it said.
From April to last month, Yang and her associates passed through the airport 26 times, smuggling more than 9,000 heated tobacco products inside luggage, while Chen accepted NT$950,000 in bribes, the indictment said.
Heated tobacco products warm processed tobacco to release a nicotine aerosol. Although banned in Taiwan in 2023, the government this year eased restrictions on the devices, approving several for sale starting this month. However, they were soon removed from shelves due to labeling issues.
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