TDPO Issues Indictment against Taiwanese Citizen for Narcotics Smuggling

The Taiwan Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office (TDPO) has formally presented an indictment to the Taiwan Taoyuan District Court against a Taiwanese citizen, Yueh-Qi Zhong, for allegedly establishing and directing a drug-trafficking organization to smuggle Etomidate from Vietnam into Taiwan.

The comprehensive investigation was conducted by Prosecutor Hsin-Ju Chou of the TDPO, in close coordination with the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the National Police Agency, Ministry of the Interior. During the investigation, Zhong admitted to the underlying criminal acts.

Summary of Facts

According to the indictment, Zhong initiated and led a structured drug-trafficking conspiracy consisting of co-conspirators Ding-Sheng Huang, Heng-Chia Fan, Cheng-Hsuan Chien, Chih-Lung Lin, You-Wei Shih, and You-Yi Kuo. The group operating under Zhong's direction was organized with designated roles for international transportation, packaging, blending, and local distribution.

The prosecution has documented three distinct smuggling operations orchestrated by Zhong:

1. The July 2025 Operation: On July 21, 2025, Zhong financed a flight ticket for Ding-Sheng Huang to travel to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Upon Huang’s arrival, Zhong delivered three plastic bottles containing liquid Etomidate, with an initial net weight of 1,599.55 grams (pending laboratory analysis), and instructed Huang to smuggle the substances back to Taiwan. On July 24, 2025, Huang boarded STARLUX Airlines Flight JX714 to Taiwan. The narcotics were scheduled to be delivered to Heng-Chia Fan and transported to Douliu City, Yunlin County, to be blended into vape cartridges for illicit commercial profit. Huang was apprehended by law enforcement upon arrival at approximately 12:50 AM on July 25, 2025, which subsequently led investigators to Heng-Chia Fan.
2. The October 2025 Operation: Zhong provided NT$200,000 to Cheng-Hsuan Chien, who arranged for Chih-Lung Lin to travel to Vietnam to procure liquid narcotics. On October 10, 2025, Lin boarded VietJet Air Flight VJ840 to Taiwan, carrying two bottles containing liquid Etomidate and Metomidate, with initial net weights of 963.18 grams (pure net weight approx. 462.32 grams) and 983.37 grams (pure net weight approx. 462.18 grams), respectively. Chien separately dispatched You-Wei Shih to meet Lin. Upon clearing customs at approximately 6:00 AM, Lin was intercepted by the Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance. Following notification, police arrested both Lin and Shih, subsequently tracing the operation back to Chien.
3. The December 2025 Operation: Zhong provided an additional NT$200,000 to Chien, who arranged for You-Yi Kuo to travel to Vietnam. On December 22, 2025, Kuo boarded China Airlines Flight CI782 to Taiwan, carrying two bottles of liquid Etomidate and Metomidate, with initial net weights of 942.28 grams (pure net weight approx. 263.83 grams) and 853.72 grams (pure net weight approx. 239.04 grams), respectively. Upon arrival, Kuo was intercepted by the Customs Administration. Police subsequently arrested Kuo, as well as Chien, who was monitoring the operation from the arrival hall.

Investigation and Arrest Process

Zhong, who was already wanted by another District Prosecutors Office for unrelated offenses, fled to Vietnam during the period of these operations. Through international intelligence sharing, the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the National Police Agency liaised with Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security, which detained Zhong for domestic immigration violations.

Following the ex officio revocation of Zhong’s ROC (Taiwan) passport by the prosecuting office, Zhong was deported from Vietnam to Taiwan on August 11, 2026. Upon arrival at Taoyuan International Airport, he was arrested pursuant to a warrant issued by the prosecutor. Zhong has been remanded in custody at the Yunlin Detention Center since August 12, 2026, pending trial.

Offenses Charged

Zhong is charged with violations of the following statutes:

• Initiating or directing a criminal organization: Article 3, Paragraph 1, Part 1 of the Organized Crime Prevention Act.
• Transportation of Category Two narcotics: Article 4, Paragraph 2 of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.
• Transportation of Category Two narcotics mixed with two or more controlled substances: Article 9, Paragraph 3 of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.
• Illegal import of controlled articles: Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Smuggling Penalty Act.