TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's elite narcotics enforcement unit has uncovered a sophisticated marijuana cultivation network allegedly operated by foreign teachers working on the island. The National Police Agency's Third Special Police Corps (保安警察第三總隊) — a specialized tactical division handling major criminal investigations — detailed on Wednesday (May 28) the culmination of operations that led to the arrest of a Nepalese educator surnamed Kim (金) and the confiscation of substantial cannabis evidence.
The investigation began with an initial raid last year in New Taipei City's Tamsui District (淡水區), a coastal area north of the capital, according to officials. That operation yielded 103 marijuana plants and resulted in the arrest of a Mexican teacher surnamed Sheng (聖), who remains in detention following court proceedings. Authorities described this initial bust as the critical first step in unraveling a more extensive distribution network operating within Taiwan's expatriate educator community.
Investigators subsequently linked the cannabis operation to Kim, a previously convicted drug offender who had been sentenced to seven years imprisonment in 2017 for similar marijuana-related crimes. Police revealed that Kim had evaded authorities while partnering with a Taiwanese accomplice surnamed Ma (馬), who allegedly provided logistical support and helped secure properties for cannabis cultivation. The investigation culminated in coordinated raids on Jan. 21 targeting multiple growing facilities in New Taipei City's Linkou District (林口區) and neighboring Taoyuan City's Guishan District (龜山區).
The January raids yielded an additional 189 marijuana plants and led to the apprehension of both Kim and Ma, according to police statements. Kim now faces implementation of his previously suspended 7-year sentence, while Ma remains in pretrial detention with restricted visitation privileges. Investigators detailed the operation's structure, alleging that Kim and Sheng managed cultivation while Ma orchestrated distribution through encrypted messaging applications, marketing the illegal substances as "party supplies" or "group purchases." The combined operations have removed 292 marijuana plants from circulation alongside processed products and seeds weighing approximately 2 kilograms, with authorities valuing the seizure at more than NT$20 million (approximately US$668,870). ◼
