Two men were arrested at Chiang Kai-shek (CKS) International Airport on Sunday on charges of attempting to smuggle nearly six kilograms of pure-grade heroin into Taiwan from Thailand, according to Taipei media reports.

Investigators uncovered a total of 5.85 kg of heroin hidden in the men's luggage. The drugs, which were packed together with various kinds of health foods in 27 bottles, have an estimated street value of 200 million new Taiwan dollars (US$6.05 million).

The two suspects were identified as Chao Wen-lung and Wang Chih-ta.

Taiwan investigators said they were tipped off a year ago that international drug rings would try to take advantage of Taiwan's economic downturn to tempt unemployed workers and cash-strapped young Internet cafe goers into smuggling contraband drugs into Taiwan from Southeast Asian countries by offering them large sums of money.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2005)