Taipei, May 26 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan on Friday passed an amendment to the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act under which people involved in concealing and failing to report drug possession or abuse will now be subject to stiff fines.
Under the amended Act, those operating or working in designated business establishments now have an obligation to report drug possession and abuse by their customers to the police.
Those who fail to do so will be subject to a fine of between NT$100,000 to NT$1 million (US$33,210). Businesses involved in serious incidents could be shut down for between six and 18 months or have their business license revoked by the relevant authority.
According to the amendments, these designated business establishments should also take steps to prevent drug abuse, for example by posting warnings at their entrances, employing security personnel and reporting illegal drug activities to the police.
Business owners and their associates who fail to adopt such preventive measures will be subject to a fine of between NT$50,000 and NT$500,000 (US$16,600) million for each violation, the amendment stipulates
Examples of "designated business establishments" cited in the amendment are nightclubs, pubs and KTVs.
