(Central News Agency reporter Hung Hsueh-Kuang, Kaohsiung, June 17) The Immigration Agency's Kaohsiung City Task Force has dismantled a transnational human trafficking network involving 22 individuals, led by a woman surnamed Chen. The group deceived Thai nationals into coming to Taiwan for illegal work. A special investigation team successfully rescued five victims from remote mountainous areas.

The Kaohsiung City Task Force revealed today that Chen and her associates posted false job advertisements on Facebook groups and social media platforms, luring impoverished individuals from remote regions of Thailand with promises of high salaries. Many victims sold their properties or incurred debts to pay exorbitant brokerage fees, only to be placed in illegal labor positions across Taiwan upon arrival.

According to the investigation, due to language barriers and their status as overstayers, the victims had their passports confiscated and freedom of movement restricted. They were forced into labor-intensive jobs with long hours, low pay, and no rest days. Some were confined in cramped, makeshift truck trailers or shacks in mountainous areas, enduring extreme temperature fluctuations and lacking basic living facilities. With insufficient food, victims resorted to catching fish and shrimp in nearby streams or gathering wild vegetables to survive—severely violating their basic human rights and dignity.

After months of evidence gathering, the Kaohsiung Task Force collaborated with the Miaoli County Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to form a special unit, operating under the direction of the Miaoli District Prosecutors Office. The team conducted a raid in a mountainous farm area, rescuing five Thai nationals and seizing 47 passports. The estimated illicit proceeds amount to nearly NT$4 million. In early March this year, Chen and 21 others were referred for prosecution on charges of violating the Human Trafficking Prevention Act and the Employment Services Act.

Following the rescue, the Kaohsiung Task Force immediately initiated protection and support procedures. Professional social workers provided living assistance and legal aid, helping victims apply for legal work and residency permits in Taiwan. Only after receiving legitimate wages did the victims fully realize the extent of their exploitation, expressing deep gratitude to the investigative team for their timely intervention.

Kaohsiung Task Force Commander Chao Chih-Cheng stated that the agency maintains a zero-tolerance stance toward human trafficking. They will continue to cooperate with prosecutors to dismantle illegal brokerage networks and penalize unscrupulous employers, actively investigating all forms of human trafficking to safeguard the rights of legal workers. (Edited by Li Heng-Shan) 1150617

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  • Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
  • Category: Taiwan