Crime and Criminals

Large cannabis grow-op uncovered in Hsinchu County

cannabis plants
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

The Criminal Investigation Bureau raided a property in Hsinchu County recently and uncovered a marijuana cultivation operation with more than 1,600 plants, the CIB revealed at a press conference today, April 21. A police spokesperson said that the Taipei office of the CIB received a report in mid-March that a drug cartel had rented a large factory in Hsinchu to plant cannabis. The subsequent investigation found that seedlings were raised in the factory, then transferred to a property in the

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Man who stalked woman for months suspected of murder after body found in Pingtung City

kidnapping and murder suspect handcuffed and escorted by police officers
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A man suspected of having stalked a woman for months before using a car to knock her off her scooter, and kidnapping her, is being detained on suspicion of homicide after the woman’s body was found in Pingtung City yesterday, April 9. A massive search for a 29-year-old woman named Zeng (曾) was launched late Thursday night after witnesses reported seeing a woman bundled into a car after being knocked off her scooter by a man driving a white hatchback

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Police prepare for massive gangster funeral: officer criticized for mobster-friendly Facebook post

police inspection point at funeral home
Crime and Criminals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Police in Tainan City are preparing to deploy more than 500 officers in what may be the largest deployment of police for a gang-boss’ funeral, but one officer today faced criticism for a post he made to Facebook that appeared a little too friendly toward the deceased. Chen Jianwen, 51, was gunned down in an execution-style killing by a former junior associate February 23 in what Tainan Police Department Commissioner Fang Yeang-ning (方仰寧) said was a result of infighting among

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Lone hiker robbed, kidnapped, and dumped in remote area in Nantou County

police investigating site of robbery and kidnapping
Crime and Criminals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A pleasant hike in a popular scenic area in Nantou County turned into a 12-hour ordeal when a man was confronted by two men, robbed, tied up, carjacked, and dumped a remote mountain area, Friday, March 19. According to reports, the 30-year-old man named Hsia, was resting in a pavilion on Jinlong Mountain in Yuchi Township at around 11:00 am when two men approached him, and demanded his money. Hsia was physically intimidated by the men, and forced to hand

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Gangster fires on cops in Wanhua District, Taipei City

police officers retrain and arrest armed suspect
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A gangster with a history of firearms offences fired one shot at police in an attempt to evade arrest after being ambushed in Wanhua District, Taipei City today, March 7. Banqiao District police went to Wanhua District to arrest the 47-year-old Four Seas Gang member, named Chen, after receiving intelligence that he would be visiting friends at noon today. Nine police officers, in plain clothes, positioned themselves around a building on the corner of Xining South Road and Kaifeng Street.

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Gangster dead after shootout with cops in Kaohsiung City

police investigate car after shooting
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments , ,

A suspect being investigated for a kidnapping and ransom case was declared dead in hospital after being shot several times during a shootout with police in Kaohsiung City this morning, March 2. Police from Chiayi City Police Department, the Criminal Investigation Bureau, and Kaohsiung City Police Department were investigating a 57-year-old man named Lee, who is suspected of masterminding the kidnapping and ransom of a wealthy businessman in Chiayi City in January. Lee was driving a white BMW SUV near

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National record for cannabis cultivation broken once again, after 1,600+ plant grow-op busted

a cannabis plant-filled auditorium in Chiayi county
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments , ,

Chiayi County police and district prosecutors uncovered a record haul of 1,648 marijuana plants after raids on multiple properties in the county, Sunday, February 21. The previous record for a cannabis cultivation operation bust for Taiwan law enforcement was set in August 2020, when Taichung City Police uncovered 1,361 plants in Nantou County. See previous story: Biggest marijuana plantation in Taiwan’s history busted in Nantou County Chiayi County police began an investigation into the operation in November 2020, and raided

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“Mother of Satan” bomber commits suicide in Tainan Detention Center

Wu Fu-hong, the Mother of Satan bomber
Crime and Criminals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

A man dubbed by Taiwan media as the “Mother of Satan” bomber died of suspected suicide in the Tainan Detention Center two days ago, and an autopsy was carried out on his body today, February 23. Wu Fu-hong, 49, was found dead in his bed in a cell of the detention center Sunday morning. Wu had a cord wrapped around his neck, and his mouth and nose were stuffed with tissue, and taped up, according to reports. Detention center staff

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20-kilogram amphetamine haul found on New Taipei City coast drifted from Pingtung County after smuggling boat capsized

drugs found on coast of New Taipei City
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

An investigation has concluded that a 20.8 kilogram haul of amphetamines found by anglers in Wanli District, New Taipei City had originated from a boat that capsized off the coast of Pingtung County last year, prosecutors announced today, February 4. According to reports, a man named Lin and three friends were fishing on the coast in Wanli District on May 12, 2020, when they noticed a bag floating on the sea. The men scooped the bag ashore and found that

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One dead, 6 injured after brawl in Taichung City gym

gym after fatal brawl
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

One man died and six were injured after two groups clashed at a privately-owned gymnasium in Taichung City yesterday evening, February 1. According to reports in United Daily News, a dispute occurred when nine men arrived at the gym armed with air guns and knives at around 6:20 pm. The 14 people already in the gym picked up baseball bats, pool cues, and other weapons to defend themselves. Four of the attackers were injured, including a 24-year-old man named Hsieh, a

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Migrant worker who threw elderly woman off bridge after scooter accident sentenced to 6-year prison term

Nguyen charged with attempted homicide
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A Vietnamese migrant worker who accidentally hit an elderly woman while riding a scooter in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, then threw her off a bridge to conceal evidence, was sentenced to a 6-year term in prison for attempted murder after an appeal to the Taiwan High Court. On Christmas Eve, 2019, the 33-year-old factory worker named Nguyen, riding a scooter, accidentally hit 79-year-old Ms Du as she was walking across Fenglin Bridge, in Ruifang District. Nguyen, then picked the

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