Ketamine smuggled from Pakistan in rock salt shipment leads to major drug supplier bust

An investigation into a haul of ketamine hidden in a shipment of rock salt imported from Pakistan earlier this month led to the bust of a local drug manufacturing operation, and prevented the import of more than 500 kilograms of ketamine and heroin from Thailand, Kaohsiung District Prosecutors revealed today.

On December 4, a joint task force of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Kaohsiung City Maritime Affairs Field Division, and Kaohsiung City Customs Department opened a container at the Port of Kaohsiung containing bulk bags of rock salt. Investigators uncovered 22 large bags of ketamine with a total weight of 185 kilograms.

The investigation traced the importers to a warehouse in Renwu District where they found close to one ton of raw materials for drug production. Five men were arrested.

As the investigation progressed it was found that the group was preparing to import a shipment of drugs from Thailand. After notifying the Criminal Bureau liaison office in Thailand, on December 15 Thai police raided a warehouse in Bangkok, and a residence in Nonthaburi, and seized 300 kilograms of ketamine, and 228 kilograms of heroin awaiting shipment to Taiwan. Two Thai nationals were arrested.

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