Taipei, Nov. 15 (CNA) Three Filipinos have been detained for allegedly helping smuggle more than 3 kilograms of marijuana into Taiwan in two packages sent by express courier, aviation police said Wednesday.

Aviation police found the packages described as containing "clothes and toys" suspicious when they arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport from the United States on Nov. 13, said Tien Wei-jen, an officer with the Aviation Police Bureau's Criminal Investigation Brigade, at a press conference.

The police confirmed the two packages contained 3,256 grams of cannibis after the contents were examined by the Civil Aviation Medical Center, and turned the case over to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office, Tien said.

Based on information obtained from the packages, members of an investigative task force handling the case arrested the three Filipinos, a man and two women, in Taipei and New Taipei, where the two packages were addressed, Tien said.

The three Filipinos later admitted to being paid NT$6,000 (US$200) to take delivery of each of the two packages, he said, adding that the task force will continue its investigation to find those ultimately responsible for importing the drugs into Taiwan.

(By J. C. Wu and Flor Wang)
Enditem/ls