Drugs found on fishing trawler 4 months after tip-off launches investigation

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/12/10
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A shipment of 126 kilograms of heroin originating in Myanmar was found on a vessel off southwest Taiwan, resulting in the termination of a supply route for the drug, Pingtung County prosecutors said Thursday (Dec. 10).

Investigators estimate the 324 bricks had a total street value of NT$3 billion (US$106 million), CNA reported.

The case began in March when the Coast Guard Administration in Kaohsiung received a tip-off about drug smugglers using fishing trawlers. After four months of investigation, agents boarded the Yi Feng Man off the coast of Pingtung County’s Hengchun Peninsula at 2 a.m. on July 24.

A thorough inspection of the vessel involving dogs and divers turned up five bags of heroin weighing a total of 126 kg. The captain of the ship, Lin Tse-fu (林澤富), and five other suspects were detained and later charged.    [FULL  STORY]