Taiwan Ciaotou District  Prosecutors Office   Press Release
Issue Date: December 02, 2025
Contributor: Yu-Shan Yan ,Deputy Chief Prosecutor

Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office Uncovers Transnational “Artistic Lamp Drug Concealment” Smuggling Scheme. Over 19 kg of Heroin Intercepted, International Suspects Arrested Simultaneously.

In early October, 2025, this office received intelligence indicating that a transnational drug-trafficking organization was planning to ship Schedule I narcotic heroin to Taiwan from Vietnam. Chief Prosecutor Chang Chun-Hui immediately assigned Head Prosecutor Shih Chia-Jung and Prosecutor Lee Kan-Ying to form a special task force with the police and the Taipei Customs Office of the Ministry of Finance’s Customs Administration to fully investigate the case. On October 23, 2025, 52 bricks of heroin were seized, with a total weight of 19.875 kilograms and a value exceeding NT$200 million. On November 4, 2025, two defendants were arrested, and after being questioned by the prosecutor, both were arrested, and after questioning by the prosecutor, the court granted their request for detention.

From several recently solved heroin smuggling cases, the special task force obtained important leads and assessed that a transnational organization might be concealing drugs in shipments declared as ‘artistic lamps,’ smuggling them to Vietnam and Taiwan. On October 23, 2025, the special task force identified abnormal parcels sent from Vietnam to Taiwan, discovering a total of seven suspicious packages and thirteen sets of artistic lamps. After opening and inspecting the parcels, heroin was discovered concealed within the base of artistic lamps using a highly sophisticated hiding method. A total of 52 ‘Double Lion Globe Brand’ heroin bricks were seized, weighing 19.875 kilograms and valued at over NT$200 million on the black market, successfully preventing a large quantity of drugs from entering in Taiwan.

Through international cooperation, the case expanded its enforcement results, and the office cooperated with the police authorities of Vietnam and Laos in exchanging intelligence. Police in Vietnam successfully arrested three suspects involved in sending the drugs and seized 107 kilograms of heroin, jointly dismantling a transnational drug-trafficking network. This demonstrates the high level of effectiveness achieved when law-enforcement agencies from different countries work together to combat drug-related crimes.

Chief Prosecutor Chang Chun-Hui once again urges the public to stay away from drugs. Do not let momentary curiosity or the temptation of high pay from unknown sources draw you into criminal networks, and never transport or receive packages of unknown origin on behalf of others. Drugs not only endanger an individual’s physical and mental health, but are often linked to transnational criminal organizations, creating far-reaching impacts on public safety. If members of the public encounter suspected drug transactions, transportation, or solicitation activities, should immediately report them to law enforcement agencies so we can work together to safeguard our community.

In the future, the office will continue working through international organizations and cooperating with judicial and law enforcement agencies around the world to jointly combat crime. We will strengthen efforts to intercept emerging drug-trafficking methods and maintain close collaboration with foreign law enforcement to trace the sources and pursue the masterminds behind these operations, in order to safeguard public health and social order.

News No. 2025120201