TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – China is the main source for the raw materials used to produce the illegal drug etomidate, the National Security Bureau said Friday.
The government said last month it was planning to list etomidate, an ingredient in “zombie vape” cartridges for recreational use, as a Category 1 drug. The move allowed the death penalty for people convicted of manufacturing, transporting or selling the drug.
In a report to be presented at the Legislative Yuan next week, the intelligence agency said the raw materials for etomidate originate mainly in China, per UDN. India and Malaysia were suppliers of the finished product, the report said.
The bureau also analyzed the threats posed by other new types of drugs. Ketamine, a Category 3 drug, arrives in Taiwan mainly from Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.
Another Category 3 drug, mephedrone or MMC-4, is smuggled from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Drug dealers frequently mix the substance, also known as Meow Meow, with ketamine inside tea or coffee bags to avoid detection, UDN reported.
The drugs enter Taiwan inside containers by ship or air transport, smuggled in aboard small ships, or mailed inside packages, Up Media reported. Using packages avoids the seizure of large quantities by law enforcement, while often the person sent to pick up the package at its destination is not aware of its contents, the agency said.
The bureau wants to counter the surge in drug trafficking by improving the exchange of information, deepening international cooperation, and increasing the understanding of smuggling routes, according to Up Media. The intelligence agency also proposes to improve training, including in the use of drones, and to penetrate the Dark Web to uncover illegal deals and the flow of money involved in the drugs trade.
