Taiwan Cracks Down on Illegal Cigarette Operation, Seizes Massive Tobacco Haul

Police in Changhua County bust illicit factory, uncovering a substantial criminal enterprise.

Taoyuan, April 27 - In a significant operation targeting illicit activities, authorities in Taiwan raided an illegal cigarette manufacturing site in Changhua County on Friday, resulting in the seizure of 5 metric tons of tobacco and the detention of a suspect, the Taoyuan City Police Department announced on Sunday.

A total of 315 bundles of unfinished tobacco were confiscated, each weighing approximately 17 kilograms. This substantial quantity could have been used to produce an estimated 3.15 million cigarettes, with a street value approaching NT$20 million (US$614,113), according to the Zhongli Police Precinct.

The operation was spearheaded by a special task force comprising the Zhongli Police Precinct, in collaboration with government agencies in Changhua and Nantou counties, alongside the Pingtung County and Changhua County Police Departments. Kao Hai-yuan (高海源), deputy head of the police precinct, detailed the operation in a media briefing, highlighting the collaborative efforts.

During the raid, a 35-year-old man, identified by the surname Chiang (江), was apprehended, and cigarette-making machinery was seized. Authorities are now focused on identifying and apprehending all other individuals connected to the illegal cigarette manufacturing operation, Kao added.

Kao stated that preliminary investigations suggest the illegal factory had been in operation for approximately three months, with its products primarily targeting migrant workers.

In related efforts, Lin Ting-tai (林鼎泰), head of Zhongli Police Precinct, reported that a task force of over 100 officers conducted a series of sweeps on Saturday targeting 16 nightclubs, hostess bars, and other entertainment venues across four major roads in the district.

Over the past week, the police precinct successfully resolved 121 criminal cases (including 27 fraud cases), leading to the arrest of 102 individuals and the capture of 41 wanted criminals, according to Lin. From April 9-22, the precinct cracked 21 fraud rings, arresting 119 suspects. The operation resulted in the confiscation of NT$11.82 million.