Imported Baby Stroller Rods Conceal Ketamine; 3 Suspects Indicted for Drug Smuggling into Taiwan

(CNA, Reporter Chang Yi-lien, Kaohsiung, June 30) - Customs authorities at Kaohsiung Customs, along with other agencies, discovered 1640 grams of ketamine hidden in the hollow rod of a baby stroller imported from Germany. Three individuals, including a Vietnamese couple and an intermediary surnamed Wu, were arrested and subsequently indicted by the Taiwan Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office on charges including drug offenses.

The Third Special Police Corps announced today that in March, they formed a special task force with Kaohsiung Customs, the Kaohsiung City Police Department's Criminal Investigation Corps, and the Hunei Precinct. Under the direction of the Taiwan Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office, they intercepted a baby stroller imported from Germany at the postal center, which was found to be carrying drugs. The drugs, 1640 grams of third-grade controlled substance ketamine, were discovered hidden in a concealed compartment within the stroller's "rod" component.

Police investigation revealed that the suspects, 24-year-old Vietnamese national Ms. Tao and 34-year-old Vietnamese national Mr. Deng, are a married couple. After being reported as overstaying migrant workers, they were working at a construction site in Hunei District, Kaohsiung City. They were allegedly enticed by their 25-year-old fellow countryman, Mr. Wu, with the slogan "Let's do something big together in Taiwan," to join the drug smuggling ring.

Police stated that suspect Wu contacted a Vietnamese man nicknamed "A-Yan" in Germany. Together, they conspired to conceal ketamine powder within the stroller's tubular components. The couple was then to use the public's warm perception of "new parents" and "mother's love" to lower the vigilance of law enforcement officers and smuggle the drugs into the country. They even used Southeast Asian grocery stores as secret transfer points, attempting to use the crowds to evade detection.

Police reported that subsequent investigations led to the arrests. When Ms. Tao went to collect the package at her rented residence, investigators approached her. They then tracked down and arrested Mr. Deng, who had just returned home from work at the construction site, and the mastermind, Mr. Wu, bringing the total number of arrests to three.

Police stated that the three admitted to knowing there was "something bad" inside the package but denied knowing it was the drug ketamine. The Taiwan Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office has concluded its investigation and indicted all three individuals on charges including violations of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150630

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