New Taipei City police arrest nine in illegal street racing crackdown, seize 'zombie smoke bombs'

New Taipei City police have arrested nine individuals, aged 19 and 20, who were part of a motorcycle racing group that organized illegal street races. The group, led by a 19-year-old surnamed Chang, used LINE messaging to coordinate gatherings and engage in dangerous driving practices, including masking license plates and driving in reverse and weaving patterns.

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New Taipei City police have arrested nine individuals, aged 19 and 20, who were part of a motorcycle racing group that organized illegal street races.

The arrests were part of the sixth major sweep this year targeting illegal street racing. Police utilized extensive surveillance footage from over a thousand cameras to identify and apprehend the suspects. This operation brings the total number of apprehended racers to 52, with 32 modified vehicles and drugs seized cumulatively.

In a peculiar turn of events, Chang was apprehended along with another suspect, Zhu, when they returned to Chang's residence in New Taipei after Chang was involved in a traffic accident in Taoyuan. Chang's vehicle was severely damaged, and he had called Zhu to pick him up. Unbeknownst to them, police were lying in wait and arrested them as they arrived home.

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This operation brings the total number of apprehended racers to 52, with 32 modified vehicles and drugs seized cumulatively.

During the arrests, police confiscated three modified motorcycles used in the races and discovered two "zombie smoke bombs" on Chang. The suspects admitted to their involvement, and police are pursuing charges including endangering public safety and drug offenses. New Taipei City Traffic Division Commander Li Ren-ning vowed continued efforts to track down communication channels and involved repair shops to dismantle the sources supporting these illegal activities, emphasizing a "zero tolerance" approach.

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New Taipei City Traffic Division Commander Li Ren-ning vowed continued efforts to track down communication channels and involved repair shops to dismantle the sources supporting these illegal activities, emphasizing a "zero tolerance" approach.