TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Taiwanese woman was detained for four days in Shanghai after testing positive for cannabis following a legal consumption of a cannabis drink in Thailand.
The woman, a Taiwanese social media influencer known as Nan Chu (南珠), said on June 18 that she had legally consumed a cannabis-infused beverage in a permitted area while visiting Thailand, per FTV News. After traveling from Thailand to Shanghai, she was asked by Chinese police to submit to a urine test upon arrival.
The test came back positive, and she was immediately handcuffed and detained for four days. Nan Chu said she had followed local laws in Thailand and felt frightened and targeted during her detention in China.
On June 19, Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) warned that Taiwanese citizens traveling to Thailand and then entering China may be subject to random inspections, including blood and urine tests, at Chinese airports, per ETtoday. Liang emphasized that this risk also applies to other foreign nationals arriving in China.
“Some people believe that cannabis use is legal in Thailand and that China shouldn't punish actions that are legal abroad, especially when it involves foreigners,” Liang said. “But the CCP doesn't really care about this. As long as you're caught, you might have to stay in a detention center for several days.”
Liang added, “If you are randomly checked, you may be detained. A German executive of Volkswagen was detained for several days because of this.” In that case, a senior executive who had vacationed in Thailand tested positive for cannabis upon arrival in Beijing, was detained for 10 days, and then deported.
Chen Chien-chin (陳建欽), general manager of a travel agency, also reminded the public that while travelers returning from Thailand to Taiwan are not subject to urine tests, they must not bring back any cannabis-related products, per FTV News. “Whether it’s cannabis-infused drinks, cookies, or even soaps, bringing any marijuana-related products into Taiwan or many other countries could land you in serious legal trouble,” he said.
