TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A drug case from last November led to a police raid on an indoor marijuana growing operation in Taoyuan, netting 4,843 marijuana plants and six suspects on Monday (April 30).
In addition to the marijuana plants, 27 sets of growth lamps, 20.4 kg of cannabis bud, and 7.3 kg of pseudoephedrine were seized. Other items taken into police custody include cash worth NT$10 million (US$307,000), two gold necklaces, one Rolex watch, and various planting tools.
The operation is believed to be led by an individual surnamed Hsieh (謝), who used dwarf cannabis plants to increase yields. One cannabis mother plant was potentially divided into 40 plants, which in a large pot could yield NT$10 million in sales, per CNA.
Furthermore, top-quality cannabis buds were grown and sold at a market price of NT$2,000 for one gram.
After receiving information about an indoor growing facility in Taoyuan’s Longtan District, Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office formed a task force. They later raided the residence when the perpetrators were present.
Hsieh, who is in his 30s, often traveled abroad to inspect overseas marijuana farms and hired a group of unemployed friends to work at his “one-stop shop.” Reportedly, there was one cannabis cultivator, who taught two employees about how to grow marijuana, while another person packed it, and another sold the goods.
None of the six arrested individuals had a prior criminal record.
The indoor growing facility covered four floors. In addition to growing cannabis, the residents also produced a Category 4 narcotic, pseudoephedrine.
Adhesive tape was used to prevent the leakage of odors, which could tip off neighbors. The residence was estimated to have been used for about nine months.
