Published: 2026/10/11 13:19 Updated: 2026/10/11 13:36
Chen Guanxun, Chen Boyu / Comprehensive Report
The drug problem in Taiwan is serious. In Linkou, New Taipei City, a 60-year-old man refused a roadside check and fled for 5 kilometers, crashing into a police car before being apprehended. He was found in possession of etomidate cartridges and other drugs. In Banqiao, police conducted a cross-district search of a drug manufacturing site. The suspect jumped out of a window and drove away before officers broke down the door. He hid for two hours before three drug manufacturing and trafficking suspects were finally apprehended at a motel in Tucheng.
Upon discovering the vehicle involved, police immediately stopped the driver, but the driver locked the doors and refused to open the windows. Taking advantage of the green light, the driver, feeling guilty, accelerated and fled.
Police tracked their movements, reviewed surveillance footage, located their hideout, and arrested three suspects involved in drug manufacturing and trafficking at a motel.
Recalling the entire case, New Taipei City Banqiao police raided a drug manufacturing operation at a residence in Guishan, Taoyuan. Before officers could break down the door, the suspects jumped out of a window and fled in a car. They subsequently refused to be stopped and sped away, eventually hiding in a motel in Tucheng, New Taipei City. They were apprehended after two hours on the run, but only one confessed during questioning.
HE ,PO-LIN, deputy director of the Xinyi Police Station of the Banqiao Precinct in New Taipei City, explained, “We seized methamphetamine, cathinone-based methamphetamine, etomidate, and other drugs, as well as a batch of drug manufacturing tools, and transferred them to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office for investigation.”
In a similar drug-related case in Linkou District, New Taipei City, police on patrol discovered a traffic violation and sounded their sirens to signal for inspection. However, the 60-year-old driver ignored the warning and accelerated, fleeing for 5 kilometers before losing control and crashing into a support police vehicle. Etomidate cartridges and methamphetamine were found on his person.
CHENG,YUAN-KAI, a patrol officer at the Wenlin Police Station of the Linkou Precinct in New Taipei City, stated, “He was transferred to the prosecutor’s office on charges of endangering public safety and obstructing official duties under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act. His 24 traffic violations were also severely punished according to law.”
According to official statistics, the amount of drugs seized last year (2025) exceeded 18,000 kilograms, a significant increase from the more than 8,500 kilograms the previous year, reflecting the domestic drug problem, especially the proliferation of emerging drugs. Wang Po-chi, Associate Professor of the Department of Criminal Justice at Ming Chuan University, stated, “Many emerging drugs are chemically synthesized. The technology is so advanced that the speed of evolution is far beyond what the law can keep up with. Is it possible to classify the major chemical formulas of drugs? Is it necessary to do so?”
Some scholars have suggested strengthening the control of chemicals and enhancing efforts to combat drug trafficking at its source.