TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Canadian man was indicted on Aug. 1 for smuggling a large quantity of marijuana into Taiwan for a drug cartel. 

The 31-year-old was stopped by customs and arrested at Taoyuan International Airport on March 29. Officials seized 21 packages of marijuana with a net weight of 19,803 grams, per CNA.

The man flew from Vancouver, Canada, with two checked suitcases of marijuana provided by an individual named David Du, according to the indictment from the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office. Du booked the flight and accommodation, while the suspect was responsible for transporting the marijuana to Taiwan in exchange for CA$2,000 (US$1,446) to CA$8,000. 

The Canadian national was prosecuted for violating the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act. Prosecutors asked the Taoyuan District Court to consider a sentence of 14 years in prison and a fine of up to NT$100,000. 

Cannabis is listed as a category two narcotic in Taiwan. Those caught manufacturing, transporting, selling, or possessing cannabis or its derivative products can be subject to serious fines and imprisonment.