Taiwan, U.S. sign MOU on combating cross-border drug trafficking

Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) Taiwan and the United States earlier this week signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance two-way intelligence sharing and jointly combat transnational drug trafficking, the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan announced on Thursday.

The MOU-signed on Monday in the U.S. by Taiwan's representative office and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) will enhance intelligence sharing between the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office by "enabling more efficient investigations and prosecutions of transnational drug trafficking organizations," the AIT said in a press release.

Following its signing, the MOU was presented on Tuesday during the 4th annual Cross-Border Drug Enforcement Cooperation Forum held at the DEA headquarters in Arlington County, Virginia, the AIT press release said.

The annual forum, held for the first time in America since its launch, brought together representatives from the DEA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as well as law enforcement agencies from Taiwan, it said.

The AIT press release quoted DEA Asia Pacific Division Special Agent in charge John Scott as saying that the annual forum represents the "shared commitment of Taiwan and the United States to combat the scourge of drug trafficking."

"DEA recognized that international cooperation is essential to dismantling drug trafficking organizations," said Scott.

"This forum provided an opportunity to deepen partnerships, share intelligence, and develop strategies to combat the global drug trade," he said.

Meanwhile, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, was quoted in the same press release as saying that the signing of the MOU and the holding of the annual forum "serve as a new starting point for deeper collaboration within the international law enforcement network."

AIT represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties.