Taipei prosecutors said a French geology researcher at National Taiwan University (NTU) was under investigation for receiving a package from France believed to contain marijuana seeds.
Police said the Taipei Customs Office last Monday received an air express package containing a bag of seeds that they suspect are seeds of the marijuana plant.
The customs office then contacted Taipei police.
Police on Thursday arrested the French national at his residence in Taipei after his wife received the bag of seeds from the delivery company.
The suspect told police the seeds were for green beans used in various meat dishes in his hometown, authorities said. He told police the bag of seeds was sent by his parents.
Taipei prosecutors on Thursday night released the man without bail, saying the seeds would be examined.
Transporting marijuana seeds is punishable by up to two years in prison.
NTU spokesman Fu Li-chen (傅立成) told reporters that the man had performed research at the university for four years.
The man is a trusted colleague and the school believes the police have made a mistake, Fu said.
Police said the Taipei Customs Office last Monday received an air express package containing a bag of seeds that they suspect are seeds of the marijuana plant.
The customs office then contacted Taipei police.
Police on Thursday arrested the French national at his residence in Taipei after his wife received the bag of seeds from the delivery company.
The suspect told police the seeds were for green beans used in various meat dishes in his hometown, authorities said. He told police the bag of seeds was sent by his parents.
Taipei prosecutors on Thursday night released the man without bail, saying the seeds would be examined.
Transporting marijuana seeds is punishable by up to two years in prison.
NTU spokesman Fu Li-chen (傅立成) told reporters that the man had performed research at the university for four years.
The man is a trusted colleague and the school believes the police have made a mistake, Fu said.
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