Taiwanese prosecutors say a criminal gang lured young people with fake job offers and planned to ship them to China to have their organs taken — a disturbing case that adds to fears about Taiwanese citizens disappearing across the strait.

• Prosecutors in Taoyuan broke up a gang that promised high-paying courier and smuggling work, then locked victims up in a rented house.
• The plan was to move them by boat to China, where their organs would be harvested; a single person could reportedly fetch over NT$9 million.
• Seized phone messages show members discussing shocking victims, forcing them onto vehicles, and using a fishing port with no cameras.
• Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council called the case shocking and said it wants to know who is behind the trafficking chain.
• Since January 2024, 431 Taiwanese have gone missing, been detained, or been held in China — including 160 still unaccounted for.

Outlook: Taiwan is expected to dig into the network behind the ring, though officials say they cannot yet link the missing-persons cases to organ trafficking.