Qiaotou Prosecutors Bust 'Mule' Smuggling Heroin in Body Capsules; French Man Held 101 Pellets

(CNA reporter Chang Yi-lien, Kaohsiung, July 15) — A French national suspected of serving as a 'human drug mule' by ingesting heroin-filled capsules was arrested upon arrival at Taoyuan International Airport, following an operation led by the Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office. The man expelled all 101 capsules from his body over five days, and prosecutors subsequently obtained a court-approved detention order after interrogation.

The Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office released a press statement today, revealing that authorities recently uncovered a drug trafficking syndicate planning to smuggle narcotics across borders via the 'body-carry method,' in which individuals swallow sealed drug capsules before boarding flights. A special investigative unit identified a French national arriving from Thailand as a suspect.

According to the Kaohsiung City Police Department's Criminal Investigation Bureau, the suspect, a man in his 50s, arrived at Taoyuan International Airport on the 7th. During immigration inspection, he was flagged and subjected to an X-ray scan, which revealed multiple oval-shaped foreign objects densely packed in his gastrointestinal tract—confirming 'internal drug concealment'—and he was immediately arrested.

Prosecutors stated that medical examinations confirmed the presence of heroin-filled capsules in the man's abdomen. Under medical supervision, he expelled all 101 capsules over five days. The total gross weight of the heroin was 1,403.8 grams, with an estimated street value exceeding NT$20 million.

Police noted that each drug pellet was tightly wrapped in plastic bags and heat-shrink film, slightly larger than a standard AA battery. Upon apprehension, the man claimed he participated due to poor health and financial need, stating he was promised approximately USD 3,000 as compensation.

After an overnight interrogation, prosecutors on the 12th filed a motion with the Qiaotou District Court to detain the suspect without visitation rights under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, which was approved.

The Kaohsiung Criminal Investigation Bureau added that from January to June, a total of 35 drug smuggling cases involving 45 individuals were apprehended—up by 30 cases and 34 people compared to the same period last year. Authorities also warned that 'body muling' not only constitutes a serious criminal offense but also poses a life-threatening risk if the drug packages rupture inside the digestive tract, potentially causing acute shock. (Editor: Sean Hsu) 1150715