Taiwan Ciaotou District Prosecutor's Office Press Release

Issue Date: December 2, 2024

Contributor: Yu-Shan Yan ,Deputy Chief Prosecutor

This office detects the smuggling case of 4- methylmethcathinone raw materials. After investigation, two defendants were indicted. And prosecutor Li Kan- ying was selected as a meritorious anti-drug officer.

I.  Summary of the Indictment

Zhu ○ -Zhi and Yan ○ -Tai jointly transported a Class IV drug, 1- Methylphenyl-1-Propanone. Zhu ○ -Zhi acted as the recipient of the drug package in this case, personally receiving the package. Yan ○ -Tai was responsible for coordinating the  transportation of the parcels, dividing the liquid container containing the drugs into 16 boxes (with a total gross weight of 444.74 kg). The parcels were transported via the unaware courier service, FEDEX, shipping company from Hangzhou, China.

The packages arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on July 3, 2024. After customs officers took samples for inspection, it was confirmed that the parcels contained Class IV drug substances. Zhu ○-Zhi was arrested by the police on Xinyi Street in Gangshan District, Kaohsiung City, and later, Yan○-Tai was also apprehended, the seized Class IV drugs were confiscated.

II.   Relevant Laws and Investigation Results

The defendants, Zhu ○ -Zhi and Yan ○ -Tai, are both suspected of violating Article 4, Paragraph 4 of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention and Control Act, regarding the transportation of Class IV drugs.

Considering the investigation, the pure weight of the seized Class IV drug precursor material is approximately 360 kilograms, which could be used to produce about 220 kilograms of 4-methylmethcathinone (commonly known as "Meow Meow" ). In the past three months, the price of "Meow Meow" has been around NT$100,000 per kilogram, meaning that the total value of the drugs could reach approximately NT$22 million  through  produced  as "coffee bags."

The defendants should  have  foreseen  their actions could cause  the grave social harm, but they still proceeded with the smuggling operation. Therefore, prosecutors have recommended a sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment for both defendants.

III.   Investigation Process

Since 2021, "Meow Meow" has been the leading cause of deaths among emerging drugs. After receiving intelligence on the case, Chief Prosecutor Zhang Chun-Hui instructed Head Prosecutor Shih Chia-Jung and Prosecutor Li Kan-Ying to form a task force with relevant agencies. The team successfully uncovered the smuggling case involving "Meow Meow" drug precursors. A total of 444.74 kilograms of Class IV drug 1-Methylphenyl-1-Propanone was seized. If processed into finished products and distributed on the market, it would have posed a serious threat to the health of Taiwanese youth. During the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office’s "Safe Homeland Anti-Drug Project,"  the prosecution of this case showcased the government's firm commitment to combating emerging drugs.

Chief Prosecutor Zhang Chun-Hui has led prosecutors in actively combating emerging drugs, successfully curbing the spread of new substances and effectively dismantling drug trafficking organizations. Prosecutor Li Kan- Ying, who was recently recognized as an outstanding individual for anti-drug efforts, was honored for his role in investigating the largest Etomidate drug case in Taiwan, involved 135 kilograms of the drug, valued at approximately NT$2.7 billion, were intercepted, preventing the distribution of zombie- cigarette drugs.

On November 27, 2024, Chief Prosecutor Zhang Chun-Hui, along with Head Prosecutor Shih Chia-Jung and Prosecutor Li Kan-Ying, attended the press conference for the"11th Wave of the Safe Homeland Anti-Drug Project and Major Drug Case " by the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office and the Criminal Investigation Bureau at the Criminal Investigation Bureau's headquarters. During the event, President of the Executive Yuan Cho Jung-Tai personally commended and praised Prosecutor Li Kan-Ying for his outstanding efforts in anti-drug operations.

News No. 113120201