Prosecutors and police have dismantled a criminal syndicate involved in coercing Thai women into prostitution. To safeguard the safety of foreign nationals residing in Taiwan, prosecutors have filed public charges and are seeking prison sentences of up to 11 years and 6 months.

Prosecutor Heng-wei Chai of the Taiwan Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office, hereinafter referred to as the Office, directed the Zhongli Police Precinct, Taoyuan  Police Department , hereinafter referred to as Zhongli Police Precinct, to investigate a case involving 9 defendants, including a prime suspect surnamed Ke. The syndicate was suspected of recruiting two Thai nationals to enter Taiwan in November 2025 under the pretense of employment as hostesses, only to coerce them into prostitution upon their arrival.

Following the conclusion of the investigation, The Office determined that the defendants were suspected of violating Article 231-1, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic China by forcing, with the use of controls, a male or female to have sexual intercourse against a third person against their will. The defendants were also charged with violating Article 302-1, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 1 of the same code, namely, taking another into custody without authority by three or more persons.

The investigation revealed that the defendants demonstrated a blatant disregard for human dignity and sexual autonomy. They exploited the victims’ isolation, language barriers, and lack of a familial support network in Taiwan, treating them merely as tools for profit and depriving them of their freedom of movement. Furthermore, the defendants forced the victims to continue engaging in prostitution even during menstruation, compelling them to take medication to suppress their symptoms. Consequently, prosecutors have requested the court to impose severe prison sentences ranging from 7 years to 11 years and 6 months.

The case came to light on November 26, 2025, when the Thailand Trade and Economic Office received an urgent request for assistance from the victims' families abroad, reporting that two Thai women who had entered Taiwan were being deprived them of their freedom of movement and forced into prostitution. The matter was immediately referred to the International Affairs Division of the National Police Agency, Ministry of the Interior, which coordinated with the Zhongli Police Precinct and the Office to form a special task force.

That same evening, the task force swiftly located the victims and launched a successful rescue operation. Defendant Lee, who was monitoring the victims' movements outdoors, was arrested on the spot. Following a prosecutorial interrogation the next day, the victims were immediately placed in secure shelters to prevent secondary victimization. The prosecutor subsequently applied to the Taiwan Taoyuan District Court for the pretrial detention of the suspect, surnamed Lee, with a restriction on visitation and communication, which was officially granted by the court.

Further investigation uncovered a organized criminal syndicate operating with a sophisticated division of labor, which maintained dedicated personnel for management, surveillance, logistics, facility maintenance, and the provisioning of meals and lodging. Under prosecutorial direction, the task force proactively coordinated with the National Immigration Agency to impose border and travel restrictions on the remaining co-defendants.

Between late 2025 and early 2026, the designated task force successfully intercepted multiple defendants attempting to flee the jurisdiction.Defendants Chen, Huang, and Chou were apprehended pursuant to judicially issued warrants at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on November 28, 2025, December 19, 2025, and February 22, 2026, respectively. Following their apprehension, the competent court reviewed and approved the prosecutor's applications for pretrial detention, remanding the aforementioned defendants into custody.In a related development, defendant Yeh evaded immediate apprehension and fled the territory via the Mini Three-Link transportation network prior to the execution of the task force's enforcement action. However, through coordinated law enforcement intelligence, authorities intercepted and arrested Yeh immediately upon his re-entry into Taiwan on February 1, 2026. The prosecutor subsequently filed a motion for detention, which was granted by the court.

The designated task force executed court-authorized searches across four illicit venues utilized for prostitution, resulting in the seizure of surveillance footage, mobile communication devices, laptop computers, and illegally-gained proceeds totaling approximately NT$370,000. Subsequent digital forensic analysis successfully reconstructed communication logs and evidentiary records, thereby delineating the syndicate's operational and organizational hierarchy.Between January and February 2026, the competent prosecutors officially indicted defendants Ko, Huang, Huang, Chan, and their accomplices. Upon the prosecutor’s subsequent motion for pretrial detention, the competent court approved the remand of all remaining defendants into custody, with the sole exception of Defendant Chan.

Through close and coordinated cooperation with the Thailand Trade and Economic Office, the Zhongli Police Precinct, and the National Immigration Agency, the Office has successfully dismantled this criminal syndicate. This timely operation effectively prevented further sexual exploitation of foreign nationals, who were targeted by the ring due to their vulnerable status in Taiwan. This swift and decisive action strongly underscores our nation’s firm resolve and commitment to safeguarding the personal safety and sexual autonomy of all foreign nationals, thereby upholding Taiwan’s international reputation as a dedicated protector of human rights.