Suspect fires at police during SWAT team raid: drug trafficking group arrested
A suspect fired at police before running out of ammunition and surrendering during a SWAT raid in southern Taiwan two days ago, Yunlin County police said at a press briefing today, January 21.
Yunlin County Mayor Chang Li-shan commended police for cracking a major drugs and firearms case, and maintaining law and order in the lead up to the Lunar New Year holidays.
The raid was a result of a months-long investigation after the Criminal Police Brigade of Yunlin County Police Bureau were tipped off that drug trafficking group led by a 30-year-old man, named Yang, was heavily armed, and using guns to threaten and intimidate people.
The Yunlin District Prosecutor’s Office immediately formed a special investigation team to track and trace the suspects’ movements. After several months of investigation and gathering of evidence, police locked into several locations, including that of the gang leader in Pingtung County.
While the exact location of Yang’s hideout was not provided in the press briefing, it was noted that the investigation team, and 30 police SWAT team officers, were assisted by police officers from Dongang and Ligang townships in raid on a building on January 18.
Police bodycam footage released to media showed that Yang fired shots at police in a narrow stairwell, before running out of ammunition and throwing the handgun down the stairs.
According to a United Daily News report, one bullet hit a SWAT officer’s bulletproof shield.
Yang surrendered to police and was immediately arrested. Five further arrests ensued on January 18 and 19.
Police seized one standard MP9 submachine gun, one standard pistol, two modified pistols, 267 bullets, one Double UO Globe brand heroin brick(486.1 grams), 6 packs of heroin(51.2 grams), 9 packs of amphetamines (1.118 kilograms), NT$8.5 million cash, and other evidence.
The value of the drugs seized was estimated at NT$20 million.
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