The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said yesterday that it has, in conjunction with other agencies, seized a record 13.8 metric tons of narcotics so far this year, about 1.46 times the amount seized in 2024.
Among the drug busts were seven major maritime smuggling cases and two container-smuggling cases, which uncovered a combined 7,236 kilograms of narcotics, the CGA said at a news conference in Taichung.
Authorities also busted five drug manufacturing sites, yielding 2,042 kilograms of drugs and 481 cannabis plants, according to the CGA.
Photo: :Liao Yao-tung, Taipei Times
In addition, the CGA said it collaborated with foreign authorities to intercept 4,147 kilograms of drugs destined for Taiwan through international information-sharing channels.
The authorities seized 9,441 kilograms of narcotics last year.
The CGA highlighted four cases at the news conference, three of which involved illegal drug manufacturing sites, where finished and semi-finished narcotics valued at NT $400 million (US$12.71 million) on the black market were seized.
The seized drugs primarily consisted of ketamine, mephedrone and pseudoephedrine, the CGA said.
Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said the drugs seized from the illicit manufacturing premises were enough to produce around 2 million doses and would have had “unthinkable” consequences for society had they entered circulation.
Kuan lauded the “seamless” collaboration by the CGA, prosecutors, police and customs authorities in cracking down on narcotics-related offenses and pledged to step up inspection efforts.
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