Taiwan police break up online gambling money-laundering ring handling NT$3.7 billion
Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau has dismantled a large online gambling and money-laundering network in Taichung, a win for law enforcement and a blow to the operators now facing charges.
- Police arrested 27 people, including the 37-year-old ringleader and the 32-year-old man who ran the cash-washing side of the operation.
- The group moved more than NT$3.7 billion in dirty money over the past year, laundering it through a string of shell companies set up as fake payment channels.
- Raids across five cities and counties turned up stacks of cash worth NT$16.88 million hidden in a safe, plus computers and phones.
- The gang had shut down its office-tower base and scattered staff into ordinary homes to work remotely after sensing a crackdown was coming.
Outlook: Prosecutors are pursuing gambling and money-laundering charges, and police are still tracing the money to find anyone higher up the chain.