Taiwan Executive Yuan Approves Harsh Penalties for 'Zombie Vapes', Including Death Penalty for Manufacturing and Transport

(Central News Agency, reporters Lai Yu-chen and Kao Hua-chien, Taipei, June 4) The Executive Yuan today approved a special report on "Drug and Drugged Driving Prevention," finalizing 14 response strategies including source deterrence, enhanced investigation, and severe punishment for drugged driving. These include raising penalties for fatal drugged driving, making the manufacturing or transport of etomidate (zombie vapes) punishable by death, lifetime license revocation for fatal drugged driving, and fines of up to NT$100,000 for possessing e-cigarettes. Related legislative amendments are expected to be submitted starting in June.

Amid frequent incidents of drugged driving, the Executive Yuan today approved the "Drug and Drugged Driving Prevention" report submitted by the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Ministry of Transportation and Communications. Executive Yuan Spokesperson Lee Hui-chih stated at a post-meeting press conference that Premier Cho Jung-tai has ordered a complete crackdown on drugged driving, outlining three strategic directions and 14 measures.

The five source deterrence measures are: 1) Reclassifying etomidate from a Category 2 to a Category 1 drug, with manufacturing, transport, and sale punishable by death. 2) Imposing criminal liability for manufacturing, transporting, selling, or supplying e-cigarettes. 3) Subjecting the "possession" of e-cigarettes to administrative fines and adding confiscation provisions. 4) Strengthening source management by increasing measures to block e-cigarette advertisements on online platforms and increasing penalties for violators. 5) Enhancing international drug enforcement cooperation to improve interdiction at sea.

Deputy Minister of Justice Huang Mou-hsin stated at the press conference that the Ministry of Justice plans to convene the Drug Review Committee on June 17 to confirm the reclassification of etomidate as a Category 1 drug.

The three enhanced investigation measures are: 1) Immediately studying the legalization of saliva screening, increasing testing capacity, and accelerating the turnaround time for drugged driving tests. 2) Strengthening campus drug prevention by using saliva rapid tests to supplement current urine tests, and promoting anti-drug and anti-e-cigarette measures on campus. 3) Strengthening the seizure of e-cigarettes at borders, with immediate referral for penalties upon discovery.

Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chuang Jen-hsiang noted that since etomidate was classified as a drug in August 2024, customs has seized 29 import cases and nearly 200,000 e-cigarette devices.

The six severe punishment measures for drugged driving are: 1) Comprehensively raising the statutory penalties for drugged driving, with the Ministry of Justice to submit a draft amendment to the Criminal Code as soon as possible. 2) Revoking driving licenses for drugged driving with a three-year ban on reapplication; lifetime revocation for causing serious injury or death, or for a second offense. 3) Increasing fines for repeat offenders by NT$90,000, with cumulative increases and no upper limit. 4) Imposing liability on fellow passengers, with fines of NT$6,000 to NT$15,000. 5) Increasing penalties for driving without a license during the revocation period. 6) Confiscating the vehicle used in drugged driving, regardless of ownership.

Regarding public concern that raising the penalty for fatal drugged driving to only 12 years may not meet societal expectations, Huang stated that adjustments to penalties must consider proportionality, the principle of proportionality, and input from all sectors, but overall, the penalties for drugged driving are being revised in the direction of increase.

The 14 measures require amendments to the Criminal Code, the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, and the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, all of which will be sent to the Legislative Yuan. Executive Yuan Minister without Portfolio Lin Ming-hsin stated that while the Criminal Code amendment requires consultation with the Judicial Yuan, the first wave of amendments is expected to be submitted to the Legislative Yuan in June. Amendments requiring additional supporting data will be part of a second wave and will also be submitted during this legislative session. (Editor: Lin Hsing-meng) 1150604