🚨 Taiwan Warns Against Illegal Weight-Loss Drugs Containing Sibutramine
Taiwanese authorities are sounding the alarm over the continued smuggling of weight-loss products laced with Sibutramine, a substance classified as a Category 4 narcotic under Taiwan’s Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act. Despite repeated public awareness campaigns, cases involving foreign nationals remain widespread.
According to the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) under the National Police Agency (NPA), Sibutramine was once prescribed for obesity but has long been banned due to its dangerous side effects. The drug works by altering brain chemicals to suppress appetite, but it can also raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, and depression.
📦 Smuggling Cases on the Rise
In 2024, customs officials intercepted 36 separate shipments of products containing Sibutramine, all sent through international postal packages. Most originated from Thailand (25 cases), while others came from Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Mongolia.
Authorities arrested 38 suspects linked to these packages. Of those, Thai nationals accounted for the majority (21), followed by Taiwanese (7), Vietnamese (4), Filipinos and Indonesians (2 each), and one each from Cambodia and Mongolia. Investigators noted that over 80% of those arrested were migrant workers or foreign spouses, suggesting many may not have been aware of Taiwan’s strict regulations.
🧴 Common Product Brands Seized
Confiscated items included slimming powders, capsules, and detox products under brand names such as “Ozy,” “Lishou 麗瘦,” “MARA SLIM,” “Honey Q Level Up,” “COZY S,” “RubisS Detox,” “ITCHA XS,” “Maya Rm,” “MAX HEALTH,” “SERA,” and “MATAINE.”
⚖️ Severe Penalties Under Taiwan Law
The CIB reminded the public that ordering or shipping Sibutramine products into Taiwan—whether for personal use or resale—is illegal. Offenders face five to twelve years in prison and fines of up to NT$5 million.
The bureau emphasized that while Sibutramine remains loosely regulated in parts of Southeast Asia, it is strictly prohibited in Taiwan. Migrant workers and foreign nationals are urged to check product contents carefully before bringing them into the country to avoid violating the law.
👉 Reminder from Authorities: “Foreign nationals in Taiwan must comply with local regulations. Do not risk your health, livelihood, or freedom by using or importing banned substances.”
