Yunlin County Launches Cross-Agency Platform for Zero Tolerance on Waste, Intensifying Investigations

(Central News Agency, Yunlin County, June 22) To strengthen environmental crime investigation capabilities and protect national land resources and environmental quality, the Yunlin County Government today convened relevant units including prosecutors, police, and intelligence agencies. By establishing a cross-agency investigation cooperation platform, it demonstrates the determination of the central and local governments to work together to combat environmental crimes and safeguard environmental justice.

The Yunlin County Government today held a press conference titled "Beautiful Yunlin × Protecting the Future: Prosecutor-Police-Intelligence-Environmental Investigation Platform Alliance," inviting relevant units such as prosecutors, police, and intelligence agencies to participate.

According to statistics from the Yunlin District Prosecutors Office, from 2023 to May 2026, environmental cases investigated and concluded involved 475 cases of waste, with 878 individuals indicted or summarily judged, and a total of NT$22.55 million seized and confiscated.

Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan stated that this platform alliance not only symbolizes an important milestone in inter-agency cooperation but also demonstrates a zero-tolerance resolve towards waste. In the future, the Prosecutor-Police-Intelligence-Environmental Investigation Platform will enhance the investigation and prosecution of illegal dumping of waste, environmental pollution, illegal mining of soil and rocks, reckless land reclamation and deforestation, and destruction of natural resources through mechanisms such as intelligence sharing, joint investigations, professional division of labor, and technology-enabled law enforcement. This will improve case investigation efficiency and law enforcement capacity, jointly maintaining environmental quality and the safety of national land resources.

Lin Hsiu-min, Chief Prosecutor of the Yunlin District Prosecutors Office, pointed out that the modus operandi of environmental and land crimes has transformed from past single-point, individual dumping to organized, planned operations, and even illegal landfills disguised as legal operations. Therefore, it is no longer possible for a single agency to complete investigations. Through this platform alliance, the hope is to achieve timely intelligence reporting, early intervention by prosecutors and police, reduction of environmental damage, and seamless integration between administration and judiciary, thereby thoroughly dismantling organized, structural, or even triad-involved illegal activities.

Furthermore, prosecutors will strengthen the pursuit of criminal proceeds, ensuring that those who truly cause pollution bear the responsibility for restoration. In the future, the Yunlin District Prosecutors Office will combine efforts with the county government and all network units, employing technology-assisted investigations and teamwork to protect Yunlin's land.

Chang Chiao-wei, Director of the Yunlin County Environmental Protection Bureau, emphasized that the inspection brigade uses drones, surveillance cameras, and other methods to investigate illegal activities. Additionally, during the major enforcement period from July to September this year, penalties and reporting rewards will be increased. Individuals who litter will face a maximum penalty of NT$6,000, and the reporting reward will be 50%, or up to NT$3,000, encouraging the public to take photos and report, fostering public participation in environmental protection. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 20260622

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