Taiwanese prosecutors have busted a scrap metal group accused of laundering more than NT$10 billion and cheating the tax system, a win for authorities but a sign of how much dirty money moves through ordinary businesses.

• Investigators found cash stacked in bricks across tables when they raided the operation in Taichung.
• The group allegedly used dozens of shell companies and bank accounts to shuffle money, then pulled it out in cash to hide the trail.
• Fake invoices were used to disguise the real deals, letting the group claim tax refunds it was not owed and dodge over NT$500 million in taxes.
• More than 250 officers ran raids on dozens of sites, seizing cash, luxury cars including a Lamborghini, and freezing hundreds of millions more.
• Prosecutors asked the court to detain seven core members, including the company boss and his wife, who handled the finances.

Outlook: The detention requests go before the court next, and the money trail through the other shell companies is still being unwound.