Drug syndicate disguises drug mules as monks: Fake monks arrested at airports in Taiwan and Japan

monks costume and drugs as evidence in drug smuggling investigation

February 29, 2024February 29, 2024 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drug smuggling, drug trafficking, Taoyuan International Airport

A transnational drug trafficking group disguised drug smugglers as monks in an attempt to thwart airport security, but two of the fake monks have been arrested at airports in Taiwan and Japan. According to an investigation by the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office, a 25-year-old Taiwanese man named Liu Jingting was recruited by a drug syndicate to smuggle ketamine from Cambodia to Taiwan in September 2023. Liu Jingting was accompanied by two members of the group, Xu and Gao, who acted

Drugs

April 14, 2022April 14, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drug trafficking, drug-manufacturing

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

composite image showing SWAT team officers, drugs and guns

Crime and Criminals

January 21, 2022January 21, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drug trafficking, firearms, guns, heroin, Pingtung County, Taiwan SWAT, Yunlin County

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

Drugs

December 5, 2021December 5, 2021 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment amphetamines, drug smuggling, drug trafficking, Thailand

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

Drugs

November 5, 2021November 5, 2021 Phillip Charlier 2 Comments drug trafficking, heroin, New Taipei City

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

Drugs

July 31, 2018July 31, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drug trafficking, heroin, Taichung City

Police investigators found 5 bricks of high-grade heroin hidden under a child’s car seat, after swooping on a vehicle to arrest a suspect wanted for involvement in importing a large quantity of amphetamine precursors intercepted in May last year. The 38 year-old suspect named Wang was arrested after 5 police cars surrounded his vehicle in an alley in Nantun District, Taichung City yesterday, July 30. A search of Wang’s vehicle turned up 5 bricks of heroin of up to 90%

Crime and Criminals

April 7, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drug trafficking, firearms, Taichung

Police detectives in Taichung City shot at the back tires of a suspect vehicle before arresting a suspect wanted on charges relating to trading in firearms and drugs. Detectives investigating the case observed that the 36 year-old man named Zhou, had a regular pattern of movement. Late yesterday afternoon, the detectives proceeded to Longjing District, where Zhou appeared on schedule, driving a stolen car. Zhou parked his car, and police waited until a large truck stopped at a red light,

Drugs

August 5, 2017August 5, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drug trafficking, ketamine

National Highway Police yesterday used four patrol cars to block the northbound lanes of National Freeway 3 in Taoyuan, causing a 3 kilometer-long traffic jam, allowing Coast Guard and police investigators to intercept drug traffickers carrying 181 kilograms of ketamine. At around 4:00pm Friday, August 4, coast guard officers from the Northern Coastal Patrol Office in a joint operation with Taipei City and Taichung City police followed suspects driving two cars, one described as a black Mercedes Benz from Taichung

Drugs

July 13, 2017July 13, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cannabis, drug trafficking, marijuana

[Cover picture: UDN] Police and Coast Guard officers this morning raided a Penghu registered fishing vessel in Anping fishing port, Tainan City, and intercepted a 264 kilogram haul of cannabis. Prosecutors said it was the biggest marijuana bust in the last five years. The raid was conducted at 1:00am this morning after a tip off from investigators in Kaohsiung. Investigators found 519 bags each weighing around 500 grams. The captain of the fishing boat, Hsia Zhongyi and three Indonesian crew

indonesian police with one ton drug haul

Drugs

July 13, 2017July 13, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment amphetamines, drug trafficking, Indonesia

[Cover Picture: Channel News Asia] Indonesian police intercepted a record one metric ton haul of crystal methamphetamine imported from China on a tip-off from Taiwan Police today, July 13. A Taiwanese suspect, Lin Minghui was shot dead as he tried to evade police. Another two, Chen Weicuan and Liao Guanyu were arrested, and another suspect, Hsu Yungli is still at large after evading arrest. One of the arrested is in hospital after being shot in the leg. The drugs were

Environment

April 16, 2016May 13, 2016 Phillip Charlier 2 Comments drug trafficking, human rights, human trafficking, pacific ocean, seafood, taiwan government, tuna

A comprehensive report on Taiwan’s fishing industry was released by Greenpeace International, Thursday April 14, which accuses the country’s government of failing to take responsibility for the actions of of its fishing fleet in global waters; and warns of damage to the Made in Taiwan brand. The report is the result of a 12-month investigation that included interviews and observations of Taiwanese vessels and crew operating in the Pacific Ocean as far away as Fiji. Investigators visited major fishing ports

drug trafficking

Drug syndicate disguises drug mules as monks: Fake monks arrested at airports in Taiwan and Japan

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

Suspect fires at police during SWAT team raid: drug trafficking group arrested

900kg amphetamine haul bound for Taiwan intercepted in Thailand

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

High Grade Heroin Bricks found hidden in Child’s Car Seat

Suspect Arrested After Cops Shoot at Tires

Police Block National Freeway to Make Massive Drug Bust

264KG Cannabis Bust in Tainan: “Biggest in Recent Years”

Indonesia Police Bust 1 ton Amphetamine Haul: Taiwanese Suspect Shot Dead

Greenpeace Releases Scathing Report on Taiwan