Taiwanese police have dismantled an alleged drug trafficking network after uncovering nearly 21kg of cannabis concealed inside four mattresses shipped from Canada.
The case began in April when customs officials at the Taipei Customs Office alerted the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) after discovering 24 packets of cannabis flowers weighing approximately 20.96kg in international parcels. The packages had been sent from Canada and disguised as mattresses.
A special task force was subsequently formed to trace the network. Between April and August, investigators arrested four people allegedly involved in receiving and transporting the drug, including a driver surnamed Wu, a surveillance operative surnamed Lin, and two alleged handlers surnamed Wu and Chen.
After analysing intelligence gathered during the investigation, police traced the operation to a fourth-level suspect, a man surnamed Huang who allegedly claimed to be a member of the Bamboo Union. Authorities launched a second wave of raids and successfully apprehended him.
Investigators believe Huang played a key role in planning the operation, allegedly directing members to divide responsibilities and use multiple handovers to collect the drug shipments in an attempt to evade law enforcement.
Police said the investigation eventually uncovered the group’s alleged trafficking methods and operating locations. Among the items seized were 24 packages of cannabis weighing around 20,960g, two packets of ketamine weighing about 5.11g, drug paraphernalia, two bags, NT$12,900 (about RM1,700) in suspected criminal proceeds and 18 mobile phones.
The five suspects were subsequently referred to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for investigation under Taiwan’s Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act and Organised Crime Prevention Act.
The CIB said the operation was part of Taiwan’s broader anti-drug strategy, focusing on tracing the source of drugs, identifying those involved and cutting off the financial networks supporting trafficking operations.
Authorities stressed that drug manufacturing, transportation and distribution are serious criminal offences and urged members of the public not to become involved in illegal drug activities.
