MOFA searches for Taiwan man reportedly taken hostage in Southeast Asia

Taipei, Jan. 2 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Thursday it is attempting to locate a Taiwanese traveler to Thailand reportedly being held for ransom by a criminal gang.

According to the Taoyuan police, the 27-year-old man, surnamed Hsieh (謝), last contacted his family on Dec. 25.

Hsieh asked his family for several tens of thousands of U.S. dollars, telling them he was being held for ransom and forced to commit telecommunications fraud, police said.

Based on phone data, Hsieh's last known location was in Myanmar, police added.

Hsieh's family reported him missing to Taiwan's representative office in Myanmar on Dec. 27, MOFA said in a news release.

MOFA said it is actively trying to locate Hsieh "via the available channels" based on the last known location of his phone and contact information provided by his family.

Police said they had listed the disappearance of Hsieh, a professional fire dancer, as a major criminal case.

Authorities warned Taiwanese nationals visiting Southeast Asia to be on high alert amid a rising number of reports of people being forced to work for criminal gangs in Myanmar.