This archive report was first published on 2 August 2019.
Published on August 2, 2019, a scandal first erupted when the customs administration revealed that an agent within President Tsai Ing-wen's entourage attempted to bring in 9,800 cigarette cartons after returning from an official trip to the Caribbean.
The agent had pre-ordered the cigarettes online in Taiwan and stored them at an airport warehouse, planning to smuggle them past customs onto government vehicles as Tsai's motorcade left.
Further investigation showed that the scam was not an isolated incident, with China Airlines releasing figures indicating large amounts of duty-free cigarettes were routinely ordered during presidential visits, both for Tsai and her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou.
President Tsai has denied any knowledge of the scam and has ordered investigations, which have so far implicated 76 people, including 25 agents, Tsai's bodyguards, and military police.
Chiu Kuo-cheng, the head of the National Security Bureau, has promised a thorough investigation, stating, "I promise that the investigation will not end until the whole case is clarified."
Investigation details suggest that most agents involved purchased only a few dozen cartons of cigarettes, while the largest purchase uncovered was over 1,000 cartons by a major.
The scandal has raised concerns ahead of Taiwan's presidential election in January, where President Tsai is seeking a second term against Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu.
