1. These Directions are enacted to enhance the investigation of drug smuggling cases at the commercial ports, coordination and liaison between enforcement authorities, and intercepting drugs crossing the border.
2. “Enforcement authorities” in these Directions refers to Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance (hereinafter referred to as “Customs Administration”) and its subordinate customs offices (hereinafter referred to as the “regional Customs”), military police, police, investigative agencies , coast guard agencies (hereinafter collectively referred to as the judicial police agencies) and prosecutorial agencies.
3. “Narcotics cases” in these Directions refer to the following:
(1) Drug cases seized by the regional Customs in import goods, export goods, transit goods, containers, transportation means, parcels, and personal accompanied luggage or goods of travelers entering or leaving the Republic of China and the service crew on board of transport.
(2) Cases related to drug smuggling reported to Customs Administration or regional Customs.
(3) Cases related to drug smuggling reported to the judicial police agencies or prosecutorial agencies.
4. Upon receiving the information related to drug smuggling, and the information proves to be true after investigation, Customs Administration and regional Customs, judicial police agencies, or prosecutorial agencies shall notify one another of joint investigations, and report to the prosecutor for command investigation if necessary.
5. In cases where the judicial police agencies or prosecutorial agencies notify Customs Administration or regional Customs to investigate smuggling, upon receiving the notification of drug smuggling, the case should be conducted pursuant to Directions Governing Customs Processing of Informant Reports on Smuggling and Duty Evasion. In cases of emergency, said agencies shall inform the unit supervisor for investigation or contractor personnel on the scene of the regional Customs in question about the confidential information and investigation method by telephone or in person, and the registration procedure shall be made afterwards.
6. In order to track down criminal organizations behind drug smuggling cases, the judicial police agencies or prosecutorial agencies may request the regional Customs to take possession of the criminals involved for investigation before completing the necessary procedures for the case.
7. For narcotics cases seized by regional Customs, after completing the necessary investigation procedures, the drugs, persons involved, and exhibits should be transferred in accordance with the following regulations:
(1) Narcotics cases seized by the regional Customs without received confidential information, shall be referred to the investigative agencies for continued investigation, except under any of the following circumstances:
a. Narcotics cases jointly seized by the judicial police agencies shall be transferred to the judicial police agencies for continued investigation.
b. Based on the circumstances of domestic and international drug smuggling, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office may coordinate ongoing investigations by other judicial police agencies to effectively counter narcotics related crime by tracing the source and rooting it out.
(2) Narcotics cases that were uncovered based on the confidential information stated in Point 5, shall be transferred to the original notification institution for continued investigation. If Customs Administration or regional Customs finds that different prosecutorial agencies or judicial police agencies have repeatedly reported the same narcotics cases, upon receiving confidential information, it should notify the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office to coordinate the investigation agency.
(3) Narcotics cases jointly seized by the regional Customs and police agencies shall be referred to the police agencies for continued investigation.
8. Judicial police agencies or prosecutorial agencies that require cooperation from Customs Administration or regional Customs in the investigation of a case shall formally issue an official document. In the event of an emergency, prior approval shall be obtained from Customs Administration or managers in charge of the investigation and seizure business in regional Customs, and the official document may be issued afterwards.
9. In principle, any news releases concerning drug smuggling cases shall be temporarily suspended in the course of investigation, and press releases shall be announced afterwards, as the case merits, by the agency or agencies that made the discovery. However, where case information has already been publicly disclosed, the regional Customs may take appropriate measures in accordance with the news processing of the agency concerned.
10. Those who follow these Directions, resulting in the discovery of criminal organizations, shall be commended on their contributions to said case.