TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The number of cases involving the drug etomidate has increased by nearly 60 times compared to 2023, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office confirmed on Wednesday (Oct. 23).

The increase was reported by prosecutors at a press conference detailing efforts to curb the use of “marijuana and etomidate type drugs.” Prosecutors said seizures of both drugs had risen compared to previous years, according to a press release.

Prosecutors said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uncovered etomidate in 1,254 tests on samples of vape cartridges and other materials between January and September. The number is 57.2 times more cases than in 2022, when the drug was discovered 22 times during testing.

Prosecutor Chao Yen-li (趙燕利) said etomidate is commonly found in vape cartridges mixed with drugs used in veterinary medicine, per CNA. He said that its prevalence warranted a special warning.

Chao also said that the quantity of marijuana seized by police increased in 2023 compared to 2022, and that quantities seized this year continue to rise. He said police seized 2,385.5 kilograms of marijuana in 2023, up from 240.5 kg in 2022.

Between January and August this year, police seized 10,536 marijuana plants, compared to 6,692 seized in the same period in 2022, Chao said. Prosecutors said that marijuana has now become one of the mainstream drugs found in Taiwan.  

The prosecutors’ office said that there are more marijuana users than the data on seizures of the plant suggest.  

Prosecutor Huang Kuan-yun (黃冠運) said that prosecutors continue to promote deferred prosecution and addiction treatment for drug users. Huang said these strategies were used in over 27% of all drug-related investigations between January and September this year.

Etomidate was added to Taiwan’s list of class three controlled drugs in August.