Taichung, Taiwan — January 18, 2026
The Taichung District Court has handed down prison sentences to five individuals involved in a large-scale ketamine manufacturing operation uncovered last year in a warehouse in Xianxi Township, Changhua County. The group was arrested in June during a raid led by the Criminal Investigation Bureau’s Central Anti-Crime Center under the supervision of the Taichung District Prosecutors Office.
Authorities seized 1,756 kilograms of ketamine, including finished and semi-finished products, with an estimated street value of NT$1.5 billion. The five suspects—led by Chen Po-ying—were taken into custody on the day of the raid and later ordered detained.
According to the court ruling, a man known only by his alias “Fei Ge” established the drug syndicate in May 2025. He financed the operation and arranged for Chen to rent a metal-sheet factory in Xianxi. “Fei Ge” then supplied the chemical ingredients needed for production. Beginning June 11, Chen recruited four accomplices: a man surnamed Hsieh, hired at NT$100,000 per month, and three others—identified as Yang, Lin, and Hsu—each earning NT$50,000 per month to help produce the illegal drug.
Details of Drug Production
Investigators revealed that the group manufactured ketamine by dissolving powder-based precursors in alcohol over a gas burner. They then adjusted the mixture’s pH level and processed it through crystallization, dehydration, and drying to produce the final third-grade narcotic.
To avoid detection, the syndicate deliberately chose a location within an industrial zone where factories were densely situated, hoping any chemical odors from the process would go unnoticed. However, police surveillance eventually exposed the operation.
On June 19, after gathering adequate evidence, authorities executed a court-approved search warrant. Special operations teams forcibly entered the facility, apprehending Chen and his four accomplices at the scene. Officers also confiscated numerous tools—such as plastic and metal barrels—used in drug production, along with the massive quantity of ketamine products.
Court Sentencing
During trial proceedings at the Taichung District Court, all five suspects admitted their involvement. The court noted that Chen had a prior conviction from 2013 for manufacturing a Category 4 narcotic, for which he served a two-year prison term.
Considering the enormous volume of ketamine involved but also taking into account their admission of guilt, the court issued the following sentences:
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Chen Po-ying: 5 years imprisonment
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Lin (accomplice): 4 years and 6 months
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Hsieh, Yang, and Hsu: 4 years and 4 months each
All sentences are subject to appeal.
The ruling underscores ongoing efforts by law enforcement to crack down on drug syndicates operating in industrial and remote facilities across Taiwan.