Your browser does not support the JavaScript function. If the webpage function cannot be used normally, please enable the JavaScript state of the browser
Link to Content Area

Criminal Investigation Bureau, National Police Agency

:::

News Releases

Publish Date:2024-10-11

Update Date:2024-10-11

Units:Criminal Information Division

“Sunset Action” Project Executed by Taiwan, U.S.A, Korea, Japan and Malaysia Joint Crackdown of Methamphetamine Trafficking Concealed in Red Wines by Members of Thento Union
一、Investigating Department: Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office
(一)Guided by: Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Los Angeles
 
(二)Foreign Law Enforcement Agency: United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Korean National Police Agency, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency -Narcotics Investigation Unit, Malaysian police's Narcotics Crime Investigation Department.
 
(三)Domestic Principal Investigation Unit: International Criminal Affairs Division of Criminal Investigation Bureau, 1st Investigation Corps
 
(四)Domestic Co-investigation Units: Taipei City Police Department Criminal Investigation Division-Drug Investigation Center, Taipei City Police Department- Zhongshan Precinct, Taipei City Police Department Beitou Precinct, New Taipei City Police Department- Banqiao Precinct, Taoyuan Police Department – Taoyuan Precinct, Tainan City Police Department 3rd Precinct.

二、Time of Seizure: 2024 (referred to as the same year hereinafter): 4/27, 5/31, 6/1, 6/2, 6/4, 6/12, 6/19, 6/27, 7/3, and 7/16. (A total of 5 arrest & search projects in Taiwan, issuing 13 arrest warrants and 8 search warrants).  

三、Location of Seizure: Seoul of Korea, L.A. of the U.S.A., Cheras, Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia, Zhongshan District of Taipei City, Banqiao District of New Taipei City, Dayuan District of Taoyuan City, and East District of Tainan City.

四、Suspects Arrested: 13 Suspects including suspect Zheng (Male, registered member of Thento Union)

五、Spoils and evidence seized:
(一)Drug confiscation:
 
1.South Korea seized approximately 5.6 kg of Schedule 1 drug – Methamphetamine on April 27.
 
2.The U.S.A. seized 24 bottles of liquid schedule-2 drug Methamphetamine on May 31, with a net weight of 37.76 kg. An additional 3.6 kg of crystal methamphetamine was seized on June 1 (totaling 46.96 kg with the methamphetamine mentioned above).
 
3.Malaysia seized 44.93 kg of schedule-1 drug cocaine on July 16.
 
(二)Other Evidence: 14 work mobile phones and 1 work computer.

六、Case Summary:
(一)It is a custom for most tourists visiting California, the U.S.A. to purchase local specialty – red wines as souvenirs. Since red wines are commonly used as a concealed carrier for drug trafficking (commonly known as “tartrate crystals), the crystal methamphetamine is dissolved in water and placed into red wine bottles, whose appearance is similar to regular red wines. Cross-border drug trafficking syndicates covet the high price of methamphetamine in Japan and South Korea, so they use red wines, a local specialty of California as cover to store liquid methamphetamine and conceal the drugs in red wines in check-in luggage via air freight, in order to profiteer high price difference by trafficking liquid methamphetamine from Los Angeles, California of U.S.A. to Japan and South Korea. 
 
(二)The International Criminal Affairs Division of Criminal Investigation Bureau has long been communicated for intelligence exchange with law enforcement agencies from different countries. This case adopted big data analysis combined with intelligence provided by police from South Korea, targeting multiple high-risk drug-trafficking mules suspected of Taiwan nationality, who use the aforementioned drug-concealing approach. The case was immediately reported to Prosecutor Mei-Jun Chen of Xiang Section, Taiwan Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office for command of the investigation. These mules made a move by the end of May while the project team judged that it was the right timing and then requested the U.S.A. to conduct a strict investigation and obstruction, seizing 24 bottles of liquid methamphetamine. The Criminal Investigation Bureau and the U.S.A. reached a consensus for upward expanded tracing and the U.S.A. government agreed to deport four mules including suspect Dai from the border to Taiwan for our arrest. Taiwan further controlled the information that the primary suspect Zheng, an officer of Thento Union in Taiwan, was in command of sending their members as drug trafficking mules. The aforementioned action has executed 6 arrest & search projects in Taiwan as of today, apprehending 13 suspects who were all in violation of “Organized Crime Prevention Act,” “Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act” and other crimes. The undertaking prosecutor petitioned to the court for detainment with approval (The investigation for this case was concluded and indicted on record on August 27, 2024).
 
(三)The U.S.A. traced upward within its territory for the owner of drug source and traced downward for the owner of downstream source in Malaysia. The Malaysian police seized massive cocaine based on the relevant intelligence. The intelligence exchange of this cross-border drug trafficking case and the collaboration of multiple countries including Taiwan, the U.S.A., Korea, Japan, and Malaysia have effectively defeated cross-border drug trafficking.
 
(四)Taiwan has contacted the United States Department of Justice for mutual legal assistance on this case while our “Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Los Angeles” supported the case fully. Former Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office – Prosecutor Mei-Jun Chen (currently transferred to another department) was able to lead the project team members of International Criminal Affairs Division of Criminal Investigation Bureau in August, to collect evidence in Los Angeles through mutual legal assistance. The U.S.A. submitted the methamphetamine, red wine bottle of drug carrier, communication tools and mobile phones as well as other stolen goods/evidence seized within the territory of the U.S.A.. The results were fruitful and re-wrote another new chapter of Taiwan’s cross-border judicial collaboration.
(五)The gangster of this case absorbed 20 male and female suspects acting as cross-border drug trafficking mules, who profiteered on high pay and enjoyed free airline tickets, accommodation and food, while traveling overseas. The Criminal Investigation Bureau continues to establish contact channels with the law enforcements from different countries and collaborate on criminal investigations constantly, conducting investigation on cross-border drug-trafficking cases. The CIB specifically calls for young people due to their immature mentality, who are susceptible to being absorbed by illegal gangsters and engaging in illicit acts for generous pay, easy salary, and food/accommodation/airline tickets. Young people are lured to join the gangsters but could actually be trapped in crimes of suspected drug trafficking, and could be penalized for a death sentence, life imprisonment, or felonies for sentencing up to 10 years or more. If young people commit crimes offshore, they not only seriously damage the national reputation but also could face with dangerous situations and risks in other countries. International drug-trafficking is a high-risk act and the CIB warns people not to defy the law for minor favors.