Cigarette Smuggling Scandal Continues to Snowball|國安局私菸風暴延燒 國安二首長下台
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On July 22, the National Security Bureau Director-General Peng Sheng-chu resigned following the exposure of the cigarette smuggling scandal and it has been approved by President Tsai. Chang Chieh, the officer in charge of presidential bodyguards, have also been asked to take necessary punitive actions and be transferred. Investigators also interrogated 10 people, including a Presidential Office bodyguard surnamed Wu. On July 23, two NSB personnel including Wu were detained. The eight others posted bail. The Kuomintang says this snowballing scandal shows there is no discipline in the NSB and there are issues with President Tsai Ing-wen's leadership.
A scandal involving National Security Bureau officials and Presidential Office bodyguards using the president's overseas trips to smuggle cigarettes into the country continues to snowball. On July 22, the Presidential Office immediately approved NSB Director-General Peng Sheng-chu's request to resign. Chang Chieh, the officer in charge of presidential bodyguards, asked to be disciplined and transferred. The smuggled cigarettes have been confiscated by customs officials, and prosecutors are trying to determine if the suspects were smuggling tobacco products for profit. The Kuomintang held a press conference on July 23 to address the widening scandal. It said there is zero discipline in the NSB, and requested that the Presidential Office and other entities conduct a thorough investigation and provide society with an explanation.
National security has been compromised. Goods and cigarettes were able to enter the country and who knows what else? If what entered the country this time were firearms and bullets, who's going to take responsibility?
Those who are responsible should take responsibility. They should courageously assume responsibility. However, we don't wish to see any impact on or manipulation of politics during the investigation.
The Democratic Progressive Party accused the KMT of manipulating politics, although it had to admit that it hopes this smuggling case can be thoroughly investigated. New Power Party Legislator Huang Kuo-chang, who exposed the scandal, demanded that China Airlines take responsibility as well and ferret out the perpetrators.
The president is furious and has asked for a complete investigation. However, China Airlines is still trying to cover up its role.
We should strictly investigate and handle officials who engage in illegal activities.
This scandal has wide political ramifications. Prosecutors are currently trying to determine if there were violations of the Anti-Corruption Act, the Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act, and other laws. On July 23, they detained two NSB personnel including a Presidential Office bodyguard surnamed Wu for violating the aforementioned laws. Eight other suspects including a driver were released after posting bail ranging from NT$200,000 to NT$500,000. Under the Smuggling Penalty Act, the maximum punishment for public functionaries that shield smugglers is life imprisonment. Two of the president's previous overseas trips may also be investigated to determine if they involved any smuggling activities.
國安局私菸風波越演越烈，總統府火速同意國安局長彭勝竹請辭，總統府侍衛長張捷也自請處分調職。除了夾帶的菸品遭到海關人員全數查扣外，檢調也介入，調查是否走私菸品牟利。面對案情如滾雪球般發展，藍營舉行記者會，痛批國安紀律蕩然無存，要求總統府等單位調查清楚，給社會交代。
國民黨立委 曾銘宗表示：「國安大漏洞，貨進的來，香菸進的來，還有那些貨品已經進來了，假設這次進來的是槍砲子彈，請問誰要負責？」
民進黨立委 吳思瑤表示：「該負責的，都應當，都要勇敢的來承擔，但是我們也不樂見，在整個查辦的過程，就看到政治的一個影響跟操作。」
雖然痛批藍營政治操作，不過，綠營也是希望私菸案能調查清楚，以正視聽。而揭露全案的時代力量力委黃國昌，上午要求華航不要卸責包庇，要揪出涉案的害蟲。
時力立委 黃國昌表示：「總統已經震怒了，要求要撤查到底，華航到現在、到剛剛，還在遮遮掩掩。」
行政院長 蘇貞昌表示：「官員做出不法情事，這一方面，理當嚴查嚴辦。」
全案除了政治效應發作外，司法偵辦上，檢方上午依照貪汙、菸酒管理法等罪，諭知吳嫌等2名國安人員聲押禁見；其餘涉案的司機等8人，以20萬到50萬元不等金額交保。由於依據懲治走私條例，公務員包庇走私者，最重處無期徒刑，全案不排除向上發展，如果有必要，也將清查前兩次出訪，是否也有類似走私的不法情況。
