41.4% of those investigated for human trafficking not indicted: MOJ

Taipei, Sept. 28 (CNA) Just over 40 percent of those investigated for human trafficking-related crimes in Taiwan between 2021 and 2025 were indicted, with insufficient evidence cited in 95.9 percent of nonprosecutions, according to a recent Ministry of Justice (MOJ) report.

Of the 3,401 people investigated, 1,914 were alleged to have been involved in labor exploitation, 1,281 in sexual exploitation and 147 in organ harvesting, the report, released on Sept. 17, said.

The report also noted that the number of people investigated for sex trafficking rose from 168 in 2021 to 309 in 2025, while the number of people indicted in organ-harvesting cases remained below 70 each year.

Of those investigated, 41 percent were indicted, 41.4 percent were not indicted and 0.8 percent received deferred prosecution, according to the report.

In the vast majority -- 95.9 percent -- of cases where indictments were not issued, insufficient evidence was the reason cited, the report said.

Among those indicted, 35.5 percent were charged with offenses against personal freedom, 25.7 percent with violations of the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act, and 14.2 percent with violations of the Human Trafficking Prevention Act, according to the report.

In a related development, the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office recently indicted seven people for allegedly attempting to lure three victims to China for organ harvesting, according to a statement issued by the office on Sept. 9.

Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences of seven years for the seven, who were indicted on charges including participation in organized crime, attempted human trafficking and attempted fraud in connection with efforts to recruit people for organ harvesting in exchange for financial gain.

Prosecutors said that three other underage individuals connected to the scheme were referred to juvenile court.

According to prosecutors, the crime syndicate lured the victims to a residence in Taoyuan's Zhongli District by offering opportunities to work as money mules or in smuggling operations, with promises of high earnings.

The victims were then monitored by syndicate members before the group planned to send them overseas, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors urged the public not to readily trust job opportunities posted online or take illicit jobs, such as working as money mules for fraud syndicates, for small financial gains, warning that doing so could lead to dangerous situations.