Coconut powder shipment exposed as cover for 1 kilogram of heroin, six indicted

A shipment of coconut powder contained 1.04 kilograms of heroin worth more than NT$2 million on the black market, Taiwanese authorities said. The drugs had been concealed inside two coconut powder packages, while biscuits and snacks were placed in the box to make the parcel appear ordinary.

Police said a 56-year-old man surnamed Chen allegedly financed the shipment after contacting a Taiwanese associate overseas. The heroin reportedly came from Myanmar in an international parcel. Investigators said Chen, who lives in Taoyuan and has no regular job, wanted direct access to the drugs and arranged a chain of intermediaries to reduce the risk of detection.

A man surnamed Tseng allegedly acted as broker and recruited three others, surnamed Tsai, Huang and Ku, to collect and transport the parcel. On May 5, the package reached an apartment in New Taipei's Zhonghe District but went unclaimed and was returned to the post office. The next day, Tsai arrived by taxi to collect it and handed it to Huang and Ku, who were waiting on a shared motorcycle. Police arrested all three as they left the post office.

Investigators later arrested Chen, Tseng, a person surnamed Chu who allegedly served as the nominal recipient, and a man surnamed Lee who allegedly tracked the parcel's delivery status. Prosecutors approved detention for Chen, Tsai, Huang and Chu. After the investigation concluded, they indicted six people on drug-related charges, while saying the evidence against Lee was not clear enough for prosecution. Police and prosecutors said they are continuing to investigate possible accomplices.