Pretrial Detention Requested Following Taiwan High Prosecutors Office Circular; Court Approves Detention of Seven Individuals

To protect the lives and property of our citizens and to strictly uphold a "zero-tolerance" stance against drugged driving, the Chiayi District Prosecutors Office has fully implemented the law enforcement guidelines of the "National Campaign to Stop the Hazards of Drugged Driving" initiated by the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office (hereinafter referred to as THPO). Since May 26, 2026, when the THPO officially issued a circular instructing all district prosecutors offices to actively petition for "preventive detention" in drugged driving cases, this Office has rigorously scrutinized these cases and enforced the law with an iron fist.

Recently, duty prosecutors at this Office conducted thorough interrogations and applied precise legal arguments in cases involving defendants surnamed Guo, Cheng, Huang, Chen, Xiang, Cai, and Pan. These individuals were implicated in driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), abandoning vehicles to flee, and repeatedly taking to the roads after consuming drugs within a short timeframe.

Upon review, the seven defendants not only tested positive for drugs during initial saliva screenings, but evidence—including amphetamines and the emerging drug etomidate vape oil (commonly known as "zombie vape cartridges")—was also seized at the scenes. Furthermore, they all had prior records of being referred for drugged driving or drug abuse, demonstrating a complete lack of remorse and a clear risk of committing the same offense repeatedly.

Consequently, this Office invoked the amended Article 101-1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which took effect on May 15, 2026, to petition the court for preventive detention. Statistics show that from the issuance of the THPO circular to date, this Office has requested preventive detention for habitual drugged drivers within our jurisdiction, and the court has successfully approved the detention of all seven individuals, effectively isolating these offenders from society.

The Chiayi District Prosecutors Office emphasizes that drugged driving is tantamount to a bomb on the road. This Office will adhere to the principles of "strict and swift prosecution, proactive detention, and seeking severe sentences" to punish those who disregard public safety, thereby putting every effort into safeguarding the lives and property of our citizens. Moving forward, this Office will continue to collaborate closely with police agencies to conduct intensive crackdowns. Anyone meeting the criteria for preventive detention will be strictly prosecuted without leniency to defend the safety of all road users.