Focus Taiwan
Date: 02/16/2020
By: Liu Chien-pang, Lu Tai-cheng and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Feb. 16 (CNA) Taiwan's National Policy Agency (NPA) on Saturday announced that it recently smashed "the largest drug ring in southern Taiwan," arresting its ring leader and many members, with the busts touted as likely to reduce the nation's source of illicit drugs by at least one-third.

Speaking at a press event in Taitung to announce the arrests, NPA Director-General Chen Ja-chin (陳家欽) said the ring, founded by a man identified only by his surname Lin (林), has worked with drug rings throughout Southeast Asia for decades.

The Taiwanese criminal gang operated its own smuggling boats and cars enabling them to move the drugs safely from one country to another. It also had its own storage facilities and distribution channels, according to Chen.

In the past, the fact such drug rings usually set up "break points" in their smuggling operations made it difficult for police to track down the heads of the groups, Chen said.    [FULL  STORY]