Taiwan authorities crack down on drug driving, scams, and organized crime

Authorities in Taiwan are addressing several high-profile criminal incidents involving drugs, fraud, and violent crime. In Kaohsiung, police responded to a vehicle stopped in a fast lane where a 26-year-old driver was found unresponsive; a subsequent search revealed ketamine, leading to charges of public danger and drug offenses.

In Tainan, a 21-year-old driver attempted to evade a police checkpoint by ramming two patrol cars. Officers fired 14 shots at the vehicle's tires to stop the pursuit, discovering amphetamines and ketamine inside. Separately, a 51-year-old man was arrested after a high-speed chase involving multiple traffic violations and positive drug tests.

Financial crimes remain a significant concern. In one instance, an elderly woman in Tseung Kwan O was defrauded of 6 million HKD by scammers impersonating a famous stock commentator. In another case, a 65-year-old man was arrested in New Taipei City after a scammer posing as law enforcement tricked a retiree into handing over bank cards, resulting in a loss of 5.54 million TWD.

In a violent organized crime case, several members of a gang known as ‘Car Hunter’ were sentenced for kidnapping and torturing fraudulent money mules. Additionally, investigators continue to pursue Zhang Junjie, who has been on the run for 16 days, following the arrest of several accomplices involved in his escape network.