Illegal Waste Landfill in Taoyuan: Prosecutors Indict and Seek Confiscation of NT$400 Million in Illegal Gains

The Taoyuan City Environmental Protection Bureau announced in a press release that it received public reports of abnormal backfilling in January last year. The special project team immediately began collecting evidence and conducting technological surveillance. The case involved 10 plots of land in the Longtan and Yangmei areas, with a dumping area exceeding 10,000 square meters and an illegal dumping volume of up to 40,000 to 50,000 cubic meters. The illegal gains exceeded NT$400 million.

The Environmental Protection Bureau pointed out that relevant units carried out search and excavation operations in batches in October and December of 114. Various types of waste were found on site, including sand and gravel, bricks and tiles, concrete blocks, and various miscellaneous wastes, which have severely damaged the agricultural land structure. The estimated cost of subsequent environmental restoration is as high as NT$400 million. The operators have been ordered to immediately stop illegal activities, clear the waste within a time limit, and submit a complete restoration plan to ensure the land is restored to its original state.

The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office also issued a press release stating that suspect Lin (Malaysian national) and others formed a complete environmental crime chain through division of labor, including finding land, deceiving landowners, recruiting fleets, and illegal disposal. At the end of 114, the special project team searched 13 locations, including the residences and companies of relevant personnel, and seized 9 tractors used for the crime.

Prosecutors pointed out that the defendants, including Lin, were suspected of violating the Waste Disposal Act by providing land for waste disposal without permission, illegally engaging in waste clearance and disposal, and committing fraud under the Criminal Code. They were recently indicted. Considering that Lin has long caused land damage using this method, the court was recommended to sentence him to more than 4 years in prison. In addition, suspect Huang and 4 others have also been caught violating the Waste Disposal Act multiple times, and a sentence of more than 3 years in prison was recommended. The remaining individuals will be sentenced according to their involvement in the crime. The confiscation of illegal gains of over NT$424.27 million was also applied for. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150407