Chiayi Rehabilitation and Prosecutors Office Collaborate, Donate Rapid Drug Test Kits to Police to Combat Drugged Driving

(Central News Agency reporter Jiang Yijing, Chiayi City, 11th) The Chiayi District Prosecutors Office and the Chiayi Branch of the Taiwan Aftercare Association held a "Say No to Drugs" donation ceremony today, providing 4,000 doses of drug saliva test strips and rapid test kits to the Chiayi County and City Police Departments to support frontline officers in their duties and immediately curb the dangers of drugs and drugged driving.

The Chiayi District Prosecutors Office and the Chiayi Branch of the Taiwan Aftercare Association held the "Say No to Drugs" donation ceremony today. Taiwan High Prosecutors Office Prosecutor General Chang Tou-hui, Ministry of Justice Protection Department Director Hong Hsin-hsu, and others attended the ceremony at the Chiayi District Prosecutors Office as witnesses. Chiayi County Police Department Deputy Director Chen Yu-jen and Chiayi City Police Department Deputy Director Li Mao-yan received the donation on behalf of their departments.

Regarding some drugged driving suspects being released without bail, Chang Tou-hui stated in an interview that this phenomenon is not due to a shortage of rapid test kits but may be related to timely testing issues. On this matter, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office has coordinated with relevant units and reached a consensus with prosecutors' offices and police departments nationwide on how to produce official test reports within 24 hours.

In his speech, Chang Tou-hui pointed out that emerging drugs and drugged driving issues have drawn high social attention. The Executive Yuan recently announced the upgrade of "etomidate" to a Category 1 drug and is considering legislating saliva screening.

Chang Tou-hui emphasized that the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office has integrated six major drug enforcement systems to fully launch the "National Drugged Driving Crackdown Special Project." The donation of 4,000 rapid test kits by the Chiayi Branch of the Taiwan Aftercare Association aligns with the central government's policy of combining multiple forces to prevent drug harm from source to end, setting an excellent example of cross-ministerial cooperation nationwide.

Huang Chun-sen, Chairman of the Chiayi Branch of the Taiwan Aftercare Association, said that adhering to the principle that "prevention is better than cure," they actively gathered private resources to donate saliva rapid test kits, hoping to become a solid backing for frontline police. Through the injection of technological supplies, they aim to enhance drug enforcement efficiency, deter drugged driving, and hope to identify individuals who have gone astray early, promptly introducing them to addiction treatment and counseling resources to jointly safeguard community safety in Chiayi County and City. (Editor: Hsiao Po-wen) 1150611