Pres. Office: Cigarette smuggling case not an isolated incident

Radio Taiwan Internatinal
Date: 25 July, 2019
By: John Van Trieste

The Presidential Office says a recent smuggling scandal involving National Security Bureau agents is not an isolated case.

The scandal broke Monday upon President Tsai Ing-wen’s return from a state visit to the Caribbean. Security agents were caught attempting to use rapid customs clearance procedures for members of Tsai’s entourage to bring cigarettes into Taiwan illegally. Customs officials acting on a tip-off seized over 9000 cartons from official vehicles at the airport.

On Wednesday, Presidential Office spokesperson Ting Yun-kung said that the case is not the first of its kind. Ting said initial findings since the scandal broke show that there has been a long-standing practice of smuggling under the cover of presidential trips abroad.    [FULL  STORY]