Taiwan Customs to tighten checks for flights from North America after record marijuana haul at Taoyuan Airport

Taiwan Customs Administration has already removed Canada and the USA from the list of countries with a low risk of drug trafficking, after a passenger arriving on a flight from Los Angeles was found with two suitcases full of cannabis earlier this month.

A Taiwanese citizen named Guo (郭) was intercepted at Taipei Taoyuan airport at 5:00am on June 1, and found to have 37 kilograms of cannabis heads packed in 66 bags in two checked-in suitcases. There had been no attempt to cover-up or hide the haul, and not and inch space was wasted.

Customs officials and police did not release details of the bust until today.

According to reports, police were tipped off around a month ago that a man named Guo was planning to transport cannabis from the USA to Taiwan, and began an investigation.

When Guo went through immigration, officers were waiting for him. Guo was escorted to the baggage claim area to pick up his suitcases.

Investigators estimated the haul to have a street value of almost NT$150 million, noting that the price in Taiwan is around four to five times the price it can be purchased for in North America.

Cannabis has been legalized in Canada, and in 10 states of the US, however, both countries remained on the list of low-risk countries for drug checks on incoming passengers. After Mr Guo’s case, officials have ramped up inspections on inbound passengers from North America.

Sources: United Daily News, Liberty Times Network.

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