Premier Lin Chuan visited Kaohsiung today to commend prosecutors, coast guard personnel, investigators and police involved in last Friday's heroin seizure, and reiterate the government's determination to crack down on drug trafficking.
The heroin seizure—largest in Taiwan history—netted 1,800 bricks (693 kilograms) with a street value of nearly NT$10 billion (about US$329 million).
Speaking at the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office, the premier said that such a massive influx of heroin would have been a social catastrophe, creating new users while enabling current users to continue their indulgence. Young people could have been led astray, putting many families at risk of disintegration and creating the potential for a future life of crime. When drugs enter Taiwan, that also encourages traffickers to continue their trade, undermining Taiwan's international image, the premier said.
Today is just the starting point of the government's drug abuse prevention and control efforts, the premier said. These efforts must continue, striving to realize the highest ideals, developing teamwork so that ministries work together, with seamless cooperation between the central and local governments, and the public and private sectors. This will lead to great achievements that the nation can be proud of, as Taiwan's anti-drug efforts become a model for the global community, and like the National Health Insurance system, a global showcase for Taiwan's achievements. Drug control efforts require a strong commitment and sense of belief, and those engaged in drug abuse prevention, law enforcement and drug control should be seen as national heroes in Taiwan society.
The Ministry of Justice said that public prosecutors offices nationwide are actively investigating and seizing illegal drugs. In the 10 month period from June 2016 to March 2017, 5,507.2 kilograms of illegal drugs were seized, or 667 kilograms more than the 4,840.2 kilograms confiscated in all of 2015. Illegal drug seizures and arrests will continue to keep drugs out of Taiwan's national and customs territories. The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office has also set up a national narcotics database that will use big data linking law enforcement officers, investigators, military police, coast guard and customs personnel to trace drugs to the source through collaborative efforts, cutting off the drug flow from abroad through customs entry points.