TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Police arrested a 55-year-old male surnamed Huang (黃) in Nantou’s Lugu Township for an indoor marijuana grow operation in a rented private residence, which contained 207 plants with an estimated market value of NT$12 million (US$368,000).
Huang has no prior criminal record and was self-taught when it came to marijuana cultivation, going online to research growing practices and acquiring equipment. Taichung City Criminal Investigation Corps Unit 4 was alerted to suspicious behavior at the residence, leading to a search warrant to enter the property on Tuesday (July 2), per UDN.
In addition to seizing marijuana plants while executing the search warrant, police also collected one bag of marijuana seeds (12.39 grams) and one bag of marijuana (17.36 grams), along with associated tools such as plant grow lights, dehumidifiers, sprinklers, and other gardening equipment.
Many of his plants were grown from foreign cannabis seeds acquired online. Police estimate Huang was able to cultivate 100 grams of usable cannabis from each plant, translating into a street value of NT$60,000.
After interrogation by district prosecutors, Huang was released on NT$80,000 bail. Police remind the public that the production, transport, and sale of marijuana—a Schedule 2 drug in Taiwan—is a felony punishable by 10 years to life in prison.
