New Zealand Drug Mule Busted at Airport

A twenty-two year-old New Zealand man was arrested at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport on February 29 carrying 2.7 kilograms of heroin sewn into the fabric of his backpack.

Customs and immigration authorities thought the man was suspicious because of his flight path. The man, who has not been named, flew directly from New Zealand to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Then after a brief stop, he flew to Incheon Korea, where he boarded a flight to Taipei.

After putting the backpack through an x-ray test, investigators determined it was suspicious. They cut the lining of the bag and found a suspicious substance which was found to be heroin.

If convicted, the man will face a possible death sentence, or life imprisonment with a fine of 20 million Taiwan dollars.

A New Zealand man is strip searched after being suspected of smuggling drugs into Taiwan February 29, 2016
A New Zealand man is strip searched after being suspected of smuggling drugs into Taiwan February 29, 2016

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14 thoughts on “New Zealand Drug Mule Busted at Airport

  • March 25, 2016 at 11:26 am
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    I have already checked in with the nz office to make sure he is properly being legally represented and his parents are able to liaise with someone appropriate…
    Affirmative on both counts…
    Obviously they cannot comment more on the case…

    Reply
    • May 24, 2016 at 1:53 pm
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      Latest up date please

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      • July 13, 2016 at 5:49 am
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        Thanks Sean. We are here case heard yesterday

        Reply
        • January 13, 2017 at 3:31 pm
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          Hi, I’m very close to this person and I’m trying to figure out if I can meet him in prison but I’m having a hard time figuring out if that’s even possible. Can any of you help?

          Reply
          • January 14, 2017 at 12:23 pm
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            According to a reliable source, you just need the prisoners name and prisoner ID number. Go to the prison during visitor hours and present your ID.

            Reply
            • January 15, 2017 at 5:00 am
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              Thanks! I’ll be heading there on Thursday so fingers crossed that’s all I need to visit him.

              Reply
            • January 22, 2017 at 11:28 pm
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              It was really easy to visit him and yes all needed was his name and prisoner ID number. Thanks for your help!

              Reply
              • April 12, 2017 at 11:56 am
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                Any Update on sentencing?

                Reply
  • December 21, 2018 at 6:10 am
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    Any update on how he is doing?

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    • October 3, 2019 at 3:02 pm
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      He has been moved he won’t be coming home and he may never get to see his mother again new evidence proves he is innocent

      Reply
    • January 7, 2023 at 3:26 am
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      Any updates on how he is doing? I met him travelling years ago.

      Reply
  • January 18, 2020 at 7:46 am
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    Thankyou for the update, I knew him years ago travelling. So sorry to hear this news, will keep checking in here on the hope there is better news.

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    • January 18, 2020 at 4:03 pm
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      Hey Mike, I got a letter from him dated 18/11-2019 and everything’s was fine with him then. He hasn’t told me that he will “not be getting out” but rather that he’s looking forward to the day we can catch up on NZ soil again. He writes the exact same way you’d remember him talking and I would hope he would tell me if things changed for the worse. Much love.

      Reply
      • July 21, 2022 at 7:30 pm
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        Hey Lisa, randomly going through some old travel photos and he popped up from his time in Cairns. Has there been any update?

        Reply

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