TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – On Thursday (August 18), Taichung police arrested a man suspected of cooperating with the mastermind behind the Taiwan-Cambodia human trafficking scheme.
It follows the arrest of a 41-year-old woman surnamed Zhang, who has been dubbed the “snakehead” of the latest illegal operation that has rocked Taiwan. CNA reported that the suspect, surnamed Qiu (Qiu), was accused of luring two victims, a woman surnamed Wang (王) and a man surnamed Xu (许), to work as typists for a monthly payment of 100,000 New Taiwan dollars ($3,320).
According to police, Chiu met the couple on social media and introduced them to job postings in the Facebook group “Side Jobs”. He drove them to Taoyuan on June 7, where Zhang accommodated them in a hotel while processing passport and visa-related paperwork before dropping them off at Taoyuan International Airport.
Xu returned to Taiwan on July 17. Authorities are currently confirming Wang’s whereabouts and safety.
When police arrested Qiu, they also seized evidence and stolen items, including a phone and bankbook. Chiu, who has been handed over to prosecutors, will be charged with attempting to fraudulently cause others to leave the country for profit and violating the Trafficking in Persons Prevention Act and the Organized Crime Prevention Act.
