Taipei: Taiwan's National Immigration Agency (NIA) has dismantled an illegal labor brokerage ring that housed and deployed undocumented foreign workers, deporting 37 foreign nationals, the agency said Wednesday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the ring was led by a man surnamed Cheng who used residential properties under his name to house foreign nationals working illegally. Investigators revealed that Cheng transported the workers from the residences to job sites in the early morning hours to evade detection.
Authorities received a tip-off last year and conducted months of surveillance before intercepting Cheng's vehicle, which contained 13 overstaying foreign nationals. An additional 24 undocumented workers were later arrested at other properties linked to Cheng, as reported by the agency.
Nearly all of the 37 foreign workers were Thai nationals who had entered Taiwan on tourist visas and overstayed. Cheng, who is involved in the construction sector, recruited them through a fixed network to meet labor demand. Authorities indicated that Cheng centralized the workers at his properties to facilitate management and avoid inspections. He had previously been fined NT$600,000 (US$19,000) for violating the Employment Service Act and related regulations.
Investigators estimated that the group charged each worker NT$400 per day in brokerage fees, generating illegal profits of about NT$5 million annually. Following two coordinated raids, authorities arrested 43 people, including six illegal brokers, employers, and undocumented workers. Cheng was sentenced to four months in prison in November, with the remaining individuals dealt with under relevant laws. The 37 foreign nationals have since been deported, the NIA said.