Drug Packaging Site in Beitou Hot Spring Area Busted; Guns and Drugs Seized by Coast Guard

(CNA, Taipei, 21st, by reporter Huang Li-yun) A man surnamed Chang with a history of drug offenses utilized the sulfur smell of hot springs to evade investigation, hiding a drug packaging base in a rented apartment in Taipei's Beitou District. The Coast Guard Administration's (CGA) Investigation and Prevention Branch, acting on a report, investigated and, late last year, arrested him and seized 3 rare foreign-made standard-issue handguns and 33 bullets. The entire case has been indicted. The CGA's Investigation and Prevention Branch's Taipei Investigation Team issued a press release today stating that in December of last year, they received a public tip-off about suspicious individuals frequenting a rental property in the Beitou hot spring area, which was suspected of housing a drug packaging base. A joint task force was immediately formed with the Zhongshan Precinct of the Taipei City Police Department, under the direction of the Shilin District Prosecutors Office. Through meticulous investigation, the task force discovered that a man in his 40s, surnamed Chang, with a record of drug and firearms offenses, had rented a suite in Beitou District, Taipei City, as a drug packaging base. He cunningly used the area's distinctive strong sulfur smell as a cover, attempting to interfere with law enforcement officers' sense of smell to evade detection. After long-term surveillance, the task force, seeing the opportune moment, launched a raid late last year. As Chang was leaving, an investigator's vehicle quickly blocked the driveway, and he was surrounded by superior forces. Chang initially attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended under the tight encirclement of the Coast Guard and local police. The task force then searched Chang's residence, finding second-grade narcotic amphetamine and drug paraphernalia. They also discovered three rare foreign-made standard-issue handguns and 33 bullets. Examination of the firearms identified them as an Austrian GLOCK 19 Gen4 (a military/police firearm with faint Thai script on the frame), a Slovakian GRAND POWER P380 (primarily for civil defense in Eastern Europe, rare in Taiwan), and an American SIG SAUER P365 (used by the Royal Thai Police). Chang claimed that a friend surnamed Pan had left the firearms with him for safekeeping, but that friend had died in 2019, and he was unaware of their origin. The task force believes the three illegal firearms may have originated from Thailand. They will continue to trace the source of these military/police-grade black-market guns, noting that a preliminary check has not linked them to other domestic cases. Chang was transferred to the Shilin District Prosecutors Office for violating the Controlling Gun, Ammunition and Knife Act and the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act. He was indicted on April 16 of this year. The Coast Guard Administration stated that it will continue to strengthen its focus on key objectives such as gun suppression and combating drug crime. They urge the public to report any related illegal activities by calling the Coast Guard's toll-free "118" hotline to jointly maintain national border security and social stability. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150521