Banqiao luxury apartment fire reveals drug use, residue bags

A fire broke out in a luxury apartment in the Jiangcui North side redevelopment zone of Banqiao District, New Taipei City, prompting a response from fire and police departments. Upon arrival, authorities discovered two men inside the residence, along with what appeared to be residue from drug use, including discarded bags.

Initial investigations revealed that the two men, identified by their surnames Lin and Zhang, have previous drug-related offenses. Fire investigators are collecting evidence to determine the exact cause of the fire, while police are analyzing the scene for drug residue. Authorities suspect the individuals may have been packaging drugs within the apartment, and that drug use could have ignited the blaze. The men were reportedly hesitant and evasive when questioned by police about the incident.

The fire department received the report around 10 a.m. today, with flames and smoke emanating from the 12th floor of the apartment complex. Due to the high-rise residential nature of the building, firefighters took precautions, deploying water lines to extinguish the fire, which was contained to approximately one square meter of the living room. Neither the 35-year-old Lin nor the 51-year-old Zhang sustained injuries.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances, including the type of drugs involved and the precise cause of the fire. The two men had been renting the apartment for about two months. It is unclear if the suspects attempted to dispose of drugs by flushing them down toilets or sinks before authorities arrived. The investigation aims to trace the source of the drugs and clarify the sequence of events.