Typhoon Bailu approaches Taiwan; ex-DPP worker jailed for espionage; massive marijuana bust

Taiwan is bracing for Typhoon Bailu, with the Central Weather Administration issuing both sea and land alerts. The storm is expected to bring intermittent wind and rain, escalating to severe winds and heavy downpours from tonight through Saturday. Northern Taiwan, particularly areas near the storm's center, could experience gusts exceeding 12 Beaufort, posing a significant destructive threat and necessitating thorough typhoon preparations.

In legal news, a former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) worker, Huang Chu-jung, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for developing a Chinese spy network in Taiwan. He was previously convicted of espionage for China while doing business there, recruiting former party workers and officials. An appellate court had reduced his sentence from 10 to 6 years for a state secret protection law violation, but a separate ruling found him guilty of violating national security laws by developing the spy network, leading to the 10-year sentence. His illegal gains of NT$4.107 million were ordered confiscated.

Separately, customs officials at Keelung Port discovered nearly 300 kilograms of marijuana, valued at approximately 300 million New Taiwan dollars, hidden within the tires of two imported Jeep Wranglers from Canada. The drug trafficking ring allegedly planned to retrieve the drugs after the vehicles were successfully imported. Three suspects, including one with alleged ties to the Bamboo Union triad, have been arrested and indicted by the Keelung District Prosecutors Office for drug trafficking.