456 KG: Biggest marijuana smuggling bust in Taiwan’s history

Police and customs officials intercepted a 456 kilogram haul of marijuana hidden in a shipment of wood pellets imported from Canada earlier this year, it was revealed at a press conference today, following a 6-month-long investigation, and the arrest of six men suspect to be involved in the operation.

Officers of the National Police Agency Third Special Police Corps in cooperation with the Keelung Customs Bureau and Bali Customs Inspection Station inspected a shipment of multi-purpose wood pellets imported from Canada on April 28, and found 409 bags containing marijuana hidden in 35 pound bags of Eagle Valley brand multi-purpose wood pellets.

Under the direction of the New Taipei City District Prosecutor’s Office, the Third Special Police Corps formed a team to investigate the case. Police first arrested the head of a development company, named Yao, who turned up to take delivery of the goods. Over a course of around 6 months five more suspects were arrested in connection with the case.

The five suspects are members of local gangs in the Beitou and Shilin districts of Taipei City associated with the Bamboo Union.

The New Taipei District ordered that Yao and the other suspects be kept in detention incommunicado. The court also issued an arrest warrant for a suspect named Lin, who lives in Canada, and made the drug purchase from a cannabis farm in that country.

Based on an average price of NT$1,500 per gram, police estimate the street value of the shipment to be close to NT$700 million.

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