Coast Guard Seizes 1.8 Tons of Ketamine, Largest Drug Haul from Fishing Vessel

(Central News Agency, Pingtung County, 9th) The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) seized 1,867.3 kg gross weight of the Grade 3 narcotic ketamine, with an estimated street value of NT$3 billion, from the Pingtung-based fishing vessel "Sheng ○ Cai" in January this year. This is the largest drug seizure from a fishing vessel in Taiwan's history. The Pingtung District Prosecutors Office has indicted the captain and one other person.

Zhan Duan-en, Deputy Captain of the Pingtung Investigation Team under the CGA's Investigation Branch, explained via a pre-recorded video today that the Pingtung Investigation Team received intelligence indicating that a criminal syndicate planned to use a fishing vessel for illegal drug smuggling to reap huge profits. The case was immediately reported to prosecutor Yang Shih-yi of the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office for investigation. The 8th Patrol Area Command integrated various CGA units in southern Taiwan, including investigation teams, maritime patrol teams, coastal patrol teams, and the Tainan City Police Department's Criminal Investigation Brigade, to form a special task force.

Zhan stated that on January 23, 2025, the task force, armed with a search warrant, intercepted the Pingtung-based fishing vessel "Sheng ○ Cai" 30 nautical miles west of Maobitou (Eluanbi). They seized 1,867.3 kg gross weight of the Grade 3 narcotic ketamine, valued at NT$3 billion. After the investigation, the boat owner, surnamed Guo, and a crew member, surnamed Qiu, were transferred to the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office on charges of violating the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act. The investigation has concluded, and they have been indicted.

According to a press release from the CGA's Pingtung Investigation Team, the suspects repeatedly went out to sea intentionally with very little catch in an attempt to mislead the investigators. The task force carefully filtered and analyzed intelligence to confirm the timing of the operation. They dispatched a CGA patrol boat to board and inspect the vessel 30 nautical miles west of Maobitou in Hengchun Township.

The Pingtung Investigation Team pointed out that investigators found 85 large waterproof burlap bags in the fish hold in front of the wheelhouse. Each bag contained 18 to 21 packets of suspected narcotics, disguised with Tieguanyin tea packaging. Each packet weighed approximately 1 kg, totaling about 1,695 packets. The vessel was subsequently escorted to Donggang Fishing Port for a search. Samples tested with a handheld Raman spectrometer confirmed the substance was Grade 3 narcotic ketamine. A total of approximately 1,867.3 kg gross weight was seized, enough for 7.5 million doses (based on 0.25g per dose). The task force successfully prevented this batch of drugs from entering the market.

The Pingtung Investigation Team mentioned that the CGA is implementing the Executive Yuan's "New Generation Anti-Drug Strategy 2.0," continuing to collaborate with prosecutors, police, investigation bureaus, and customs to fully execute drug enforcement operations. Citizens who discover illegal activities at sea, smuggling, or suspicious targets, including foreign or Chinese military vessels, official ships, or abnormal targets under 20 tons, can call the CGA's 118 hotline for a chance to receive a substantial reward. (Editor: Lin Shuhui)