一、Investigation Division:Taiwan Yilan District Prosecutors Office、International Criminal Affairs Division、Yilan County Government Police Bureau Criminal Investigation Division
二、Co-organizer: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Repubic of China(Taiwan)
三、Seizure dates: March 6, 113, and March 20, 113
四、Seized locations: Various locations in Yilan County
五、Nine suspects were apprehended, including: Zheng OOOO (female, born 1967), Lai OOOO (male, born 1983), Shen OOOO (male, born 1974), and Lin OOOO (male, born 1989)
六、Confiscated 10 mobile phones, 3 international express mail packages, and other incriminating evidence.
七、Case Summary: :
- In September 2023, the Criminal Investigation Bureau's International Criminal Police Division received a notification from law enforcement agencies in Europe indicating that nearly 50 Taiwanese passports had been discovered being used by unidentified Chinese nationals to enter and exit Europe. The agencies suspected that a transnational human trafficking ring was exploiting the visa-free entry privileges granted to Taiwanese passport holders in over 110 countries worldwide. This ring was engaged in forging or misusing Taiwanese passports to conceal the true identities of individuals for illegal entry. In addition to compromising border security in various countries, the motives of these individuals using illegally obtained Taiwanese passports to enter Europe may also be linked to national security concerns. These actions not only damage Taiwan's long-established reputation as a quality global citizen but also create security vulnerabilities for countries subjected to such illegal entry using Taiwanese passports.
- The case was referred to the Chief Prosecutor of the Taiwan Yilan District Prosecutors Office, Chen Yilong, for investigation and prosecution. A special task force was formed by the Criminal Investigation Bureau's International Criminal Affairs Police Division, Yilan County Government Police Bureau Criminal Investigation Division, and the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In March 2024, the task force cracked down on a transnational organized crime group operating in Yilan, arresting four domestic group members suspected of violating the "Organized Crime Prevention Act" and the "Passport Act." The group colluded with suspects in mainland China and, under their instructions, purchased passports from multiple Taiwanese citizens through various means, including loans, debt repayment, and online social media advertisements. They obtained the passports at prices ranging from NT$7,000 to NT$10,000 per passport. They then photographed the passport pages and sent them to overseas accomplices via communication software. After confirming that there were suitable candidates for impersonation, they mailed the passports to Europe (Greece, Spain, Italy, Indonesia, etc.) according to the receiving addresses provided by the overseas suspects. The passports were then sold at high prices by overseas human trafficking rings to Chinese suspects for illegal entry and exit. The entire case was transferred to the local prosecutor's office for investigation and prosecution for violations of the Passport Act, the Organized Crime Prevention Act, and other laws. Two suspects, Zheng and Lai, were ordered detained by the court.
- In addition to severely damaging Taiwan's international reputation, this case also threatens the border security of countries where passports are misused, creating national security vulnerabilities. This case also represents the first time that Taiwanese law enforcement agencies have indicted a transnational organized crime group for violating the Passport Act and profiting from passport trafficking under Article 3(1) of the Organized Crime Prevention Act. The Criminal Investigation Bureau urges Taiwanese citizens not to break the law by buying and selling Taiwanese passports, which is a violation of the Passport Act and punishable by up to seven years in prison. Anyone who hands over their passport to another person or falsely reports it lost for impersonation can also be sentenced to up to seven years in prison and fined NT$700,000. The Criminal Investigation Bureau will continue to strengthen international intelligence exchange and cooperate with other countries to combat the illegal use of Taiwanese passports for travel.