In newly released video, Taiwan's coast guard seizes around 51 million US dollars' worth of illegal drugs.
Although cannabis made up the lion's share...the raid also found amphetamine and ketamine.
Prosecutors indicted five suspects in August with Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai hailing the operation as a triumph in drug enforcement on Monday.
CHO JUNG-TAI, TAIWAN PREMIER:
"If this huge amount of drugs had gotten into society and even reached homes and schools how many young people’s bodies, lives health, property and freedom would have been harmed?"
Yet drugs continue to circulate—with consequences that can go far beyond users themselves.
This car crash in Taichung on Saturday may have ended the careers of several promising young athletes.
The driver was under the influence when they lost control and hit three students at National Taiwan University of Sport.
One student suffered skull fractures. It’s unclear when he’ll be able to go back to school.
VOICE OF STUDENT’S MOTHER:
"It’s hard for him to regain his form and train with his team again now that this has happened to him."
A second student suffered an open fracture on the lower leg. An international competition they were set to take part in in November now seems out of the question.
CHEN TIEN-TING, NAT'L TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF SPORT:
"We strongly condemn drivers taking drugs. It has caused serious harm to [our] athletes. They train so hard and because of their injuries they may have to halt their training."
The driver in this particular case is in custody... but the race to catch drugs at the source and stop them from reaching drivers in the first place continues to be a difficult business.
Klein Wang and John Van Trieste for TaiwanPlus.
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