TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A 33-year-old Thai woman was arrested by customs officers and aviation police on Sept. 29 after allegedly attempting to smuggle 16.78 kilograms of marijuana through Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
Aviation Police Bureau Criminal Investigation Captain Li Wei-chia (李維佳) told reporters the drugs were found during a routine X-ray inspection of checked baggage. Officers noticed irregularities in the woman’s suitcase and discovered a dozen vacuum-sealed packets of marijuana, a category 2 controlled substance.
Li said investigators later learned the woman had a history of drug use in Thailand. They suspected her income was insufficient to cover the cost of her overseas travel.
During questioning, she told officers she met a drug trafficking group at a hotel in Thailand several months earlier. Knowing she wanted to travel abroad but lacked funds, the group allegedly offered her around NT$50,000 (US$1,600) for airfare and hotel expenses in exchange for transporting the marijuana.
She said she was given a suitcase containing the drugs and instructed to carry it to Taiwan, where someone would contact her upon arrival. She admitted she knew the suitcase contained narcotics, but agreed to the arrangement so she could travel overseas.
The Aviation Police Bureau said the woman was transferred to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office after questioning and will be charged under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.
Authorities pledged to strengthen customs-based drug prevention efforts and reminded the public that transporting or selling category 2 controlled substances is punishable by more than 10 years in prison and a fine of up to NT$15 million.
