Four people have been indicted on charges of illegally transporting 550-kilograms of amphetamines last November, the Tainan District Prosecutors Office announced Wednesday, after concluding an investigation earlier in the day.
The drugs seized had a street value NT$1 billion (US$35.9 million), according to prosecutors, who said the case dated back to Nov. 1, when the main suspect, surnamed Lu (?), sailed his fishing vessel out to the high sea off the coast of southwestern Taiwan.
Prosecutors said that Lu along with two other crew members on the boat made contact with a vessel of unknown nationality on Nov. 2 and took possession of the narcotics, as well as NT$18 million to NT$20 million in exchange for transporting the shipment back to port.
The suspects then covered the drugs with fish and blankets and sailed back to Anping Port in Tainan on Nov. 3, prosecutors added.
They alleged that the trio then arranged to meet with a drug runner, surnamed Chen (?), on the boat after it docked back in Anping Port, and tasked him with transporting the amphetamines in exchange for a fee of NT$1 million.
After being tipped off to the operation, prosecutors said that the coast guard and police officers waited for Chen to board the boat before arresting all four suspects.
All four were indicted on charges of violating the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, while Lu and the two other members of his crew were also indicted on smuggling charges.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel