The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) on Thursday said it seized more than 400kg of cannabis on Feb. 28 in its largest bust in the past few years, with an estimated street value of NT$850 million (US$28.4 million).
The agency’s Tainan Reconnaissance Brigade received intelligence in January about a cross-border drug ring planning to smuggle a large quantity of narcotics into Taiwan later that month and in February, Liu Pang-chien (劉邦乾), a section chief at the agency’s Investigation Branch, told a news conference.
A team directed by Tainan prosecutors carried out a stakeout and identified the planned drop-off location, Liu said.
Photo: CNA
In February, the team spotted a vessel displaying “unusual movement,” and requested a search warrant and CGA assistance to intercept and board it, he said.
The vessel was the Taiwan-registered Chin Yu Man No. 368, captained by a man surnamed Chen (陳), he said.
Coast guard personnel and prosecutors found a smuggling compartment on the ship containing waterproof bags filled with packs of cannabis, a Category 2 narcotic in Taiwan, he said.
The shipment, including packaging, weighed 402.8kg and had an estimated value of NT$850 million.
It could supply an estimated 1.35 million users, he said.
Chou Cheng-chang (周政璋), head of the brigade, said the ship left Taiwan on Feb. 14 and sailed near the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島) and the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島).
A preliminary investigation determined the shipment originated in Thailand, Chou said.
The Tainan District Prosecutors’ Office is investigating the case in accordance with the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act (毒品危害防制條例), the CGA said.
