Chiayi police seize fraud‑ring driver and collector; $260K confiscated

Last night, in the early hours of September 12, police in Chiayi City stopped a vehicle suspected of being involved in a fraud operation on a city street. The driver, identified as Xie Nan, a known operative of the fraud gang, was traveling with a fellow crew member, also named Xie Nan, who acted as the “collector.” The two were about to deliver NT$260,000 in illicit proceeds when officers, conducting a routine vehicle inspection, discovered suspicious items inside the car and decided to pursue a more thorough investigation.

When the police established a perimeter, the two men accelerated toward a nearby thicket in an attempt to abandon the vehicle and flee the scene. Officers quickly surrounded the area and set up a temporary checkpoint near the vegetation. Because the thicket was known to harbor snakes, the suspects, fearing bites, chose to exit the brush on their own under police pressure and were subsequently arrested. Under the provisions of the Criminal Code concerning fraud and related offenses, the suspects were transferred to the prosecutor’s office.

Fraud gangs, a form of organized crime unique to Taiwan, typically employ a variety of deception schemes and rely on roles such as “drivers” and “collectors” to move and conceal illegal funds. Drivers are responsible for transporting the proceeds to designated locations, while collectors receive the money and pass it on to other gang members. In this case, the two men have previously played key roles in multiple fraud investigations, and police had already listed them as primary suspects based on earlier investigative work. Although the NT$260,000 involved in this incident is not a large sum on its own, accumulated proceeds from such operations can amount to substantial illegal earnings that harm society.

The operation demonstrates the Chiayi City Police Department’s firm stance against organized crime. According to Article 339 of the Criminal Code, fraud constitutes a criminal offense, and when the amount involved reaches a certain threshold it becomes a serious crime punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment. Because the suspects have been linked to numerous cases, police seized their cash, vehicle and related evidence at the time of arrest, providing important leads for further investigation. Authorities also indicated that they will continue to probe the gang’s operational methods in order to bring additional members to justice.

From a societal perspective, the activities of fraud gangs not only erode citizens’ financial security but also undermine public confidence in financial transactions. The swift response by Chiayi City police underscores the local law‑enforcement agencies’ responsibility to protect public safety. Police urged residents who encounter suspicious vehicles or unfamiliar monetary transactions to report them immediately and cooperate with investigations, thereby helping to curb fraud crimes. The case also serves as a reminder that government agencies at all levels must strengthen oversight of financial management and risk control to avoid becoming targets of fraud networks.

(Source: Central News Agency)