Two receive 12, 6 years for smuggling over 1,000 kg of narcotics

Tainan, Nov. 29 (CNA) Two Taiwanese men have been sentenced to 12 and six years in prison after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle over 1,000 kg of narcotics into Taiwan in contravention of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act in April this year, the Tainan District Court said Wednesday.

In its ruling, the court said a suspect surnamed Lin (林) was sentenced to 12 years for his major role in the case, while another man identified with his surname of Lee (李) received six years in prison.

Lin and Lee were intercepted in waters off Kaohsiung by coast guard officers on April 16, as they attempted to smuggle narcotics into Taiwan, the ruling said.

The contraband, 278 kg of amphetamine and 747 kg of ketamine, was transferred from a Chinese vessel in international waters onto a yacht owned by Lin. After being confiscated, the drugs were destroyed and the yacht seized by law enforcement.

Lin's wife, surnamed Chuang (莊), was sentenced to one year in prison suspended for five years, after also being found guilty of attempting to help smuggle controlled articles into Taiwan.

A cousin of Chuang, surnamed Liao (廖), received a six-month jail sentence and a fine of NT$50,000 (US$1,560) after being convicted of the same charge as Chuang, the ruling said.

The verdicts can be appealed, the ruling said.