TAIPEI: A Malaysian woman was recently arrested in connection with the seizure of NT$20 million worth of illicit drugs at a Taiwan airport, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) announced here the other day.
The Malaysian national, identified only as Fami, was arrested on Sunday at an airport in Taiwan after customs authorities found 2,306 grams of heroin in her luggage, the CIB said in a released statement.
Police authorities made the arrest after receiving tips that an international drug ring might smuggle illicit narcotics into Taiwan while Typhoon Soudelor wreaked havoc on the island.
The suspect was traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Taiwan, the CIB said.
Police claim that the Malaysian woman was carrying bricks of heroin, weighing 2.3 kilograms in total, wrapped in carbon paper and concealed in hidden compartments in her luggage. She was busted after behaving suspiciously at the airport.
During interrogations, the suspect claimed that she was given US$7,000 by a drug smuggling ring to carry the heroin into Taiwan.
The suspect claimed to police that previously she had successfully trafficked drugs into Taiwan in this fashion at Kaohsiung International Airport this May.
Following the arrest, the suspect was transferred to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for questioning regarding the international drug ring.
