Drugs

Breaking Bad: chemistry prof used university lab, students, to operate “one-stop test shop” for Taiwanese drug syndicate

Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

An assistant professor and post-doctoral researcher has been prosecuted for using a university chemistry laboratory with advanced equipment, and having students unknowingly assist in testing imported and locally manufactured illicit drugs for purity, on behalf of a Taiwanese narcotrafficker. Zhang Enming (張恩銘), 44, was charged by the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office for manufacturing category 3 drugs and other crimes following an investigation into a drug manufacturing operation uncovered in Yilan County in early 2021. According to reports, Zhang, a former

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Driver high on laughing gas leads police on slow-speed chase in Taoyuan City

composite image showing laughing gas, nitrous oxide cylinder and car being driven on sidewalk
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A man who was seen inhaling laughing gas while driving refused to stop, and led police on a chase in Taoyuan City yesterday, February 19. Taoyuan City Police Department received a report at 2:50 pm that a man was seen sucking on a balloon, and suspected to be inhaling laughing gas while driving a white Mercedes Benz erratically in Taoyuan District. When police attempted to pull the driver over, the man, named Lu, refused to stop. Lu continued to drive

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Man arrested for selling Jesus-brand flavored laughing gas

composite image of Jesus Balloon Shop ad and laughing gas bottles being seized by police
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A 31-year-old man was arrested and 137 cylinders of nitrous oxide were seized in New Taipei City, following an investigation into laughing gas being sold under the brand, “Jesus Balloon Shop.” The New Taipei City Police Criminal Investigation Corps began an investigation after finding an internet user advertising flavored laughing gas on social media sites at a price of NT$4,500 per bottle. Flavors advertised included cola, sarsaparilla grape, mango, and honeydew melon. Police investigators traced the posts to a man

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Police student sentenced to 5-year prison term for importing marijuana

Central Police University and cannabis composite image
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , ,

A student of Taiwan’s Central Police University who was expelled and charged for importing marijuana by mail was handed a 5-year prison term by the Taoyuan District Court, today, January 27. According to an investigation by the Taoyuan District Prosecutor’s Office, the 20-year-old man, named Hsu, in collusion with a person identified only with the nickname “Duck,” conspired to import 200 grams of marijuana with the delivery address being Hsu’s home in Taoyuan District. On August 5, Taipei Customs officers

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Cannabis grow ops busted in New Taipei City, Changhua City

cannabis
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments , , ,

Police from Taoyuan City launched raids in two separate municipalities, uncovering marijuana growing operations in New Taipei City and Changhua City, Friday, January 21, and Saturday, January 22. Police from Zhongli Branch of Taoyuan City Police Bureau coordinated with police from Shulin Branch of New Taipei City and Keelung Port Police Corps to conduct a pre-dawn raid on a house in Shulin District, New Taipei City yesterday, January 21. The raid uncovered 686 live cannabis plants, and 15 kilograms of

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Explosion, fire in house exposes illicit drug factory in Tainan City

house exterior and interior composite image
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Firefighters called to a fire in a house in Tainan City last month, uncovered an illicit drug manufacturing operation, police revealed today, December 22. Nearby residents reported an explosion and fire in the house in Jiali District at around 4:00 pm, November 24. The Tainan City Fire Department dispatched 15 vehicles and 31 personnel to the scene of the fire. Firefighters found the house unoccupied, and bare of furniture, but filled with chemical containers and laboratory equipment. The fire was

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Man caught growing 186 marijuana plants ‘for his own use’

cannabis grown under lights
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

A man caught growing marijuana in Keelung City yesterday, December 20, told police that the 186 plants were for his own use. Police raided a house on Fuyi Street, after receiving a tip-off that the 50-year-old man, named Chen, was cultivating marijuana in the building. Police investigators found 13 mature plants, 173 seedlings, 13 bags of dried cannabis with a total weight of 549 grams, cultivation equipment, and other evidence. The plants were grown under lights, with black cloth covering

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900kg amphetamine haul bound for Taiwan intercepted in Thailand

Thai police display drugs at press conference
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , ,

Police in Thailand intercepted a close to one-ton haul of amphetamines bound for Taiwan hidden in floor tiles at a port in Bangkok two days ago, Thai police revealed at a press conference yesterday, December 4. The intercept was the result of a joint investigation by Thai and Taiwanese police agencies, media reports in Taiwan said today. Thailand Customs said that the drugs were hidden in silicon floor tiles, with each of 161 tiles being filled with 4.5 to 6

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Physically fit felon tests police stamina in foot chase through streets of New Taipei City

composite picture of suspect during police chase
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Police in New Taipei City went through an unscheduled test of physical fitness, Sunday, when a man wanted on drugs charges lead the officers on a half-hour chase, until he was cornered and arrested. Police officers were on a routine patrol in Banqiao District when they spotted a suspected wanted person at the intersection of Nanya West Road and Guanqian West Road. The man pretended to cooperate with an identity check, but suddenly fled as police were about to search

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Two arrested after couple found dead in motel jacuzzi

Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Kaohsiung City police have arrested two people suspected of dealing drugs after a man and a woman were found dead in a motel in Gushan District yesterday, November 6. Motel staff entered a room shortly after noon after the occupants failed to check out, didn’t answer the phone, and did not respond to knocks on the door. The staff found the two occupants, a male, named Hong, 20, and a female, named Huang, 18, naked and unresponsive in a jacuzzi.

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400 kg heroin haul the largest on-shore drug bust in Taiwan history

double lion brand heroin bricks
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments , ,

Police in New Taipei City arrested three men and confiscated 400 kilograms of high-purity heroin in what is believed to be the largest on-shore drug bust in Taiwan’s history, it was announced at a press briefing yesterday, November 4. The Criminal Investigation Corps of New Taipei City Police Department began an investigation into the large-scale drug trafficking operation after receiving intelligence in September that a warehouse on Dake 1st Road in Taishan District was being used by a drug smuggling

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