Two Taiwan nationals have received jail terms of more than five years after being found guilty of attempting to transport methamphetamine from the United States to Australia in 2022.
The pair, identified as a 33-year-old surnamed Chou (?) and a 36-year-old surnamed Lin (?), were sentenced under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, which lists methamphetamine as a Category II narcotic drug, according to a ruling issued by Shilin District Court on Feb. 9.
Chou was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison and Lin to five years and two months, the court said.
While the crime was committed abroad, the Shilin Court explained that Taiwan citizens are still subjected to Taiwan's criminal law in drug-related crimes.
Chou and Lin were arrested in Taiwan last year through collaboration with Australian and U.S. authorities. They were later indicted by Shilin District Prosecutors Office.
A third suspect, a 32-year-old man surnamed Chen (?), is currently on the run in the United States and has been placed on a wanted list.
According to the indictment, Chou, who has a history of arrests for drug-trafficking-related crime, sent Lin to Malaysia on May 20, 2022 to negotiate details of the smuggling scheme with two other Australian men.
Meanwhile, 30 kilograms of methamphetamine was purchased in Mexico and sent to the U.S. to be received by Chen, who then had the drug hidden in 3D printers to be shipped to Australia.
The shipment was intercepted by U.S. authorities on July 15.
The district court said as Chou and Lin pleaded guilty to their crimes, it handed them lighter sentences, which can still be appealed.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel