National Security Bureau: China is the main source of smuggling for etomidate acid, a precursor ingredient

(Central News Agency, Taipei, July 3) The National Security Bureau stated today that in recent years, drug trafficking groups have mainly smuggled first-class drugs such as "etomidate" (including precursor ingredients) and other specific emerging drugs. Their finished products and precursor ingredients mostly originate from India, Malaysia, and China. Among them, India and Malaysia are the sources of finished powders, while China is the main smuggling source of the precursor ingredient "etomidate acid."

Amidst public concern over drug driving and drug issues, the Legislative Yuan's Foreign and National Defense Committee invited National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Justice to report on "Integration of National Security Intelligence on Emerging Drug Smuggling and Collaborative International Anti-Drug Operations." The Coast Guard Administration, Ministry of Finance Directorate General of Customs, and Ministry of National Defense Military Police Command were also invited to attend and be questioned. The National Security Bureau's report was sent to the legislative members' offices this afternoon.

The National Security Bureau stated in its report that Taiwan has historically seen the prevalence of drugs such as "ecstasy," "nitrazepam," and "GHB." In recent years, drug trafficking groups have primarily smuggled specific emerging drugs like "etomidate" (including precursor ingredients). Etomidate, a first-class drug, has its finished products and precursor ingredients largely sourced from India, Malaysia, and China. India and Malaysia are the sources of finished powders, while China is the main smuggling source of the precursor ingredient "etomidate acid."

The National Security Bureau pointed out that ketamine is a third-class drug, with finished products and precursor ingredients mostly coming from Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. Due to light penalties for manufacturing, trafficking, possession, and use, its abuse is severe. "4-methylmethcathinone" is also a third-class drug, with finished products and precursor ingredients mainly originating from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. It is often mixed with "ketamine" and disguised as products like coffee packets and tea bags to evade detection.

Regarding the three main channels for drug smuggling into Taiwan, the National Security Bureau mentioned they are "concealment in sea and air cargo containers," "smuggling via ship transshipment," and "international package delivery." In the case of sea and air cargo containers, drugs are smuggled in under the guise of importing legitimate goods via sea and air freight. Due to the large volume of transportation, this is the primary route for drug interception. For example, drugs or precursor ingredients are falsely declared as general chemical substances, or concealed within imported items in an attempt to smuggle them into the country.

Smuggling via ship transshipment involves using small vessels to transport drugs, which then approach the coast or nearshore waters to smuggle them into Taiwan, thereby evading port and customs inspections. For instance, transnational drug trafficking groups use mother ships to transport drugs like "ketamine" from the "Golden Triangle" region to designated smuggling waters, where they are transferred to accomplice daughter vessels for transport into Taiwan. International package delivery utilizes the characteristics of cross-border postal packages, such as "small batch packaging" and "multiple shipments," to reduce the risk of seizure and confiscation of the entire shipment. For example, fake sender contact information is used, and unaware individuals are designated to pick up packages, creating breakpoints for investigations.

In terms of prevention measures, the National Security Bureau explained that it will integrate intelligence gathering capabilities through an intelligence-sharing network to prevent crimes such as illegal offshore transshipment, sea and air port transportation, and drug smuggling by individuals. It will also monitor individuals and networks involved in drug use within and outside military camps to ensure the purity of the troops, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the national security intelligence team in combating drugs. Concurrently, it will continue to promote international alliance exchanges and cooperation, share drug-related intelligence, and periodically invite or visit allies to hold international anti-drug conferences to discuss international drug crime trends and major drug case investigation experiences. This will refine the national security intelligence team's ability to detect, identify, and intercept drug smuggling, thereby preventing drugs from entering the country.

The National Security Bureau finally emphasized that it will collaborate with the national security intelligence team to analyze the sources, import channels, and trafficking routes of emerging drugs based on seized cases. It will sort through information clues from various drug cases to grasp the drug trafficking landscape, aiming for "source eradication."