TAIPEI: Police in Taiwan and Malaysia announced simultaneously the busting of a cross-border drug trafficking case.
A total of 1.45 million pills of nimetazepam weighing 409.5 kilograms with a market value of NT$200 million (US$6.53 million) was seized in the bust, police said. The drug, commonly known as Erimin, is an intermediate-acting hypnotic drug that is a benzodiazepine derivative.
Police said they were tipped off in early April that two members of a Taiwanese drug ring surnamed Wang, 22, and Chen 20, were planning to travel to Malaysia to make the drug deal.
The ring first shipped the drugs, which were hidden in rolls of fabric, in a container to Malaysia in early April and the two suspects then traveled to Kuala Lumpur April 28 to collect the drugs.
Police then intercepted a truck loaded with the rolls of fabric that stopped near a hotel where Wang was staying two days later and seized the drugs. Wang and Chen said they each received NT$100,000 to travel to Malaysia and take delivery of the drugs.
The two will be put on trial in Malaysia before being repatriated back to Taiwan, police said, adding that they will continue their investigation to track down any other members of the drug ring in Taiwan.
