Taiwan sees drug seizures increase four-fold this year

Taipei, Sept. 3 (CNA) Some 8,000 kilograms of illicit narcotics were seized across Taiwan in the first eight months of 2019, which is four times more than the same period of last year, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said Tuesday.

The seizures were the result of combined efforts by the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office's anti-drug units set up across six different regions in the country, the CGA said in a press release.

From January until August, roughly eight metric tons of illegal drugs and related chemicals were confiscated in Taiwan, compared with 2,132 kg seized during the same period of last year, it said.

In its statement, the administration also named some of its biggest single drug busts this year, including 2,914 kg of mephedrone ingredient 2-bromo-4-methylpropiophenone found in New Taipei's Wanli District in January, and 320 kg of ketamine found aboard a fishing boat in Taiwanese waters in April.

With the support of the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, the CGA said it will continue to work with related government agencies to crack down on drug smuggling.