MILITARY
Soldier suspect in vape case
A conscript surnamed Tsao (曹) is suspected of smuggling more than 50 “zombie vapes” into a training center, the Hsinchu District Prosecutors’ Office said yesterday. Tsao, who serves in the First Battalion of the 109th Infantry Brigade, was allegedly found with the e-cigarette devices at a training center in Hsinchu County’s Hukou Township (湖口) on Sunday during a security check, the Sixth Army Command said in a statement. Several other military personnel are suspected to be involved. “Zombie vapes” contain etomidate, a type of central nervous system depressant that can induce anesthesia. Prosecutors did not reveal more details of the case, although it is understood that their request to detain Tsao was denied. The unit would fully cooperate with the investigation and reinforce its anti-drug education program and policies, the Sixth Army Command said. The Food and Drug Administration is to meet today to discuss reclassifying etomidate as a Category 2 narcotic.
ENVIRONMENT
Agency eyes anti-iguana plan
The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday said it would take more serious action, including the use of firearms, to deal with invasive green iguanas, whose growing population is threatening agriculture in the south. The ministry plans to establish a specialized team and work with local governments to deal with the reptiles, and is considering the use of firearms, Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) said at a meeting of the legislature’s Economics Committee. Rice and red bean crops are being affected by the rapidly reproducing iguanas, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) said. The Pingtung County Government raised its budget to deal with the issue to NT$3 million from NT$2 million (US$92,450 from US$61,633), and expects to spend NT$6 million to deal with about 30,000 green iguanas this year, Lai said. Nearly 200,000 green iguanas are in Taiwan and about 190,000 have been captured since 2021, Chen said. The ministry needs an appropriate budget to deal with the problem, he added. It plans to work with local governments to explore the possibility of using firearms, which have been used to remove invasive species in the past, and would conduct training and workshops beforehand. The ministry also plans to create a platform to handle iguana control at river and border areas, he added.
CRIME
Three held for fake car plates
Three people have been arrested for selling fake vehicle license plates made in China, amid a surge in criminal activity involving vehicles with fake plates, Kaohsiung police said on Tuesday. At a news conference, police said three suspects — a 32-year-old from Tainan and two people aged 26 and 29 from Kaohsiung — were apprehended separately for selling more than 500 fake China-made license plates. Eight buyers were questioned by police, who seized eight sets of fake plates. Police said a crackdown on fake license plates was launched following an increase in their use on vehicles involved in drunk driving and speeding cases, as well as other criminal activity. Police identified the three suspects, surnamed Huang (黃), Lin (林) and Hsieh (謝), who were posting advertisements on social media offering fake license plates. The suspects placed orders with companies in China for their Taiwanese customers, selling the plates for NT$6,000 to NT$8,000 per set. The suspects also used dummy accounts to deposit income made from their illegal activities and laundered the money abroad through payment apps, such as Alipay, and cryptocurrency, police said.
Staff writers, with CNA
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