Taipei City Police Department

Press Release Body:

Issuing Agency: Taipei Mobile Division, TCPD

To safeguard public security during the summer vacation and continuously protect citizens' safety, the Taipei Mobile Division has fully mobilized and deployed a comprehensive tier-3 patrol network. Over the past month or so of the summer vacation, officers have cracked down on a total of 97 drug-related cases and booked 34 instances of drug-impaired driving (DUID). The cumulative net weight of seized narcotics includes: 31.05 grams of Category 1 drugs, such as etomidate (commonly known as "zombie vapes"); 235.01 grams of Category 2 drugs, including amphetamines; and 104.22 grams of Category 3 and Category 4 drugs, such as ketamine. Additionally, a total of 232 e-cigarettes, 501 e-cigarette cartridges (pods), and 689 drug-laced coffee packets have been intercepted this year (2026) to curb the spread and hazard of illicit drugs.

The Division emphasized that emerging narcotics are frequently disguised in covert forms—such as colorful drug-laced coffee packets, juices, or etomidate vape cartridges. These deceptive appearances lure teenagers into traps out of ignorance or curiosity. Such substances damage the user's central nervous system, leading to mental trance, blurred vision, and delayed reactions. They pose a severe threat to the physical and mental health of youths and often trigger catastrophic drug-impaired driving accidents.

The Division appeals to the public that, in order to curb the proliferation of emerging drugs and heavily penalize drug-impaired driving, the government reclassified "etomidate" and its analogues as Category 1 narcotics this June. Furthermore, the Legislative Yuan passed the third reading of amendments to the Road Traffic Management Punishment Act in July, imposing severe penalties for drug-impaired driving. The public is strongly reminded not to take chances or test the limits of the law. Staying away from the perils of drugs and DUID is the only way to jointly foster a safe, healthy, and drug-free homeland.