'Sunflower Queen' Liu Qiao-an Taken to Hospital During Police Questioning, Later Transferred to New Taipei District Prosecutors Office

(Central News Agency, reporters Cao Ya-yan and Liu Jian-bang, New Taipei, June 5) Liu Qiao-an, known as the 'Sunflower Queen,' was wanted for drug and other crimes, arrested in the US last year, and repatriated to Taiwan yesterday. During questioning at the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) today, she reported feeling unwell. The Taipei City Fire Department responded twice, and she was taken to a hospital around noon. She reportedly complained of shortness of breath and was accompanied by a lawyer. After a medical checkup, she returned to the CIB and was transferred to the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office around 3 PM. She remained silent in response to questions from the media.

According to the CIB, Liu fled to the US in 2019 after learning she would be wanted for embezzlement, abandoning her bail. While in the US, she was involved in several drug cases and is currently wanted by five district prosecutors' offices in Taiwan. A CIB task force, in cooperation with the US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), arrested Liu at a hotel in Boston on January 22, 2024, and repatriated her yesterday.

One of the cases Liu is involved in is being investigated by the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office. In October 2021, Liu concealed 590 grams of cocaine in a package containing candles, clothes, iron plates, and chocolate in the US. She used a US courier service to air-ship the package to Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City. An accomplice, a man surnamed Yang, used a stolen identity to register for the 'EZ Way' customs clearance app and instructed a woman surnamed Xie to have others pick up the package.

The Taipei Customs Office discovered the cocaine during an inspection and notified the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau's New Taipei City Investigation Office. Yang was sentenced to 9 years in prison by the New Taipei District Court in 2023 for jointly transporting a Class 1 narcotic. Xie, a repeat offender, was originally sentenced to 17 years and 6 months but received a reduced sentence of 7 years for providing information on Liu as the drug source. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150605