Record 2.4 tons of drugs destroyed: marijuana use increasing in Taiwan says MOJ
The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau destroyed 2,445 kilograms of illicit drugs seized during investigations, and said that the amount of marijuana continues to increase.
On May 10, officers from the Taipei City Police Department, New Taipei City Police Department, and National Highway Police Bureau guarded the route as heavily armed personnel from the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau flanked an armored truck borrowed from the Bank of Taiwan as it made its way from a secure warehouse to the Muzha Refuse Incineration Plant.
The shipment contained 17 kinds of drugs seized in cases by various investigation agencies around the country, including heroin, marijuana, and cocaine. The Investigation Bureau said that the security detail was armed with newly-purchased CZ P-10 C pistols and Scorpion EVO 3 A1 submachine guns equipped with Aim-point internal red dot sights.
After arrival at the Muzha Refuse Incineration Plant, the bureau held a short ceremony attended by Taipei City Government Environmental Protection Bureau personnel before the director of the plant started the destruction process.
The MOJ said that the amount of drugs broke historical records, and suggested that the law should be amended to allow for early destruction before court verdicts are made to avoid storage problems.
Speaking at a press conference following the May 10 ceremony, Minister of Justice Tsai Ching-hsiang (蔡清祥) said that the amount of marijuana destroyed this year and in the previous two years exceeded that of heroin. “The problem of marijuana proliferation is serious,” Tsai said. Tsai pointed out that since Thailand liberalized marijuana laws, there has been increasing discussion of legalization in Taiwan. However, according to Taiwan’s national conditions, there is absolutely no room for legalization, Tsai said.
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