Military Bases Dumped With Waste; Taichung Prosecutors Crack Down on Environmental Crime Syndicates in 'Pure Land Project'
The Taichung District Prosecutors Office cracked down on organized environmental crime groups illegally dumping waste on state land, including military bases. 164 people were arrested, 80 indicted, and restoration costs exceed NT$1 billion.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 16:56
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 17:02 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 08:49 (15h 47m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Su Mu-chun, Taichung, 22nd) The Taichung District Prosecutors Office launched the "Pure Land Project 2.0" to crack down on environmental crime syndicates occupying state-owned land to dump waste, which even infiltrated military bases. A total of 164 people were brought to justice and 80 were indicted. Prosecutors stated they will continue enforcement to maintain ecological sustainability.
The Taichung District Prosecutors Office issued a press release today stating that they collaborated with the nationwide "Prosecutorial Agencies Crackdown on National Land Conservation and Environmental Crimes Project" planned by the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office. Utilizing the "Police, Prosecution, Environment, and Forestry Environmental Crime Reporting Information System" co-developed with the Taichung City Environmental Protection Bureau, they promoted the upgraded "Pure Land Project 2.0."
Prosecutors noted that from September 2023 to April 2026, the task force dismantled four major environmental crime syndicates, arresting 164 individuals (including 20 corporations), seizing 107 criminal vehicles and machines, impounding NT$88.94 million in assets, applying to the court for forfeiture of over NT$10 million, and indicting 80 individuals (including 5 corporations) according to the law.
Prosecutors stated that through deep analysis of cross-agency intelligence via the reporting system, they found that the illegal syndicates had formed an organized, planned, and cross-regional criminal network. Using smart cross-referencing and technological law enforcement, the task force successfully uncovered multiple illegal waste transfer stations and fleet staging areas in Taichung's Xitun District and other locations. Tracing upwards, they identified legitimate treatment facilities, factories, and transport companies across at least 9 cities and counties; tracing downwards, they found illegal dumping sites in at least 7 cities and counties.
During the project, the team dismantled six independent illegal transport fleets that worked closely with the land-hunting environmental crime syndicates. Exploiting the remote nature of state-owned land that is hard to track, they engaged in a long-term, planned, and systematic criminal model from "source to illegal transfer station to final dumping," disposing of waste in riverbeds, fish ponds, farmland, and even a military base in Taichung.
Prosecutors mentioned that immediately after the crackdown, the task force cordoned off the scenes, excavated for evidence, and ordered the source enterprises and syndicate members to bear the responsibility of restoring the sites to their original state. Preliminary estimates show the total dumped volume is at least 157,438 cubic meters, weighing 94,463 tons, with restoration costs exceeding NT$1 billion.
Prosecutors emphasized that they will swiftly and strictly prosecute any illegal acts that destroy the ecological environment and occupy state land for personal gain. They will actively seize criminal proceeds and tools, pursue criminal and administrative liabilities for relevant corporations, and show no leniency, in order to defend national territorial integrity and maintain sustainable ecological development. (Editor: Li Hsi-chang) 1150422
(CNA Reporter Su Mu-chun, Taichung, 22nd) The Taichung District Prosecutors Office launched the "Pure Land Project 2.0" to crack down on environmental crime syndicates occupying state-owned land to dump waste, which even infiltrated military bases. A total of 164 people were brought to justice and 80 were indicted. Prosecutors stated they will continue enforcement to maintain ecological sustainability.
The Taichung District Prosecutors Office issued a press release today stating that they collaborated with the nationwide "Prosecutorial Agencies Crackdown on National Land Conservation and Environmental Crimes Project" planned by the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office. Utilizing the "Police, Prosecution, Environment, and Forestry Environmental Crime Reporting Information System" co-developed with the Taichung City Environmental Protection Bureau, they promoted the upgraded "Pure Land Project 2.0."
Prosecutors noted that from September 2023 to April 2026, the task force dismantled four major environmental crime syndicates, arresting 164 individuals (including 20 corporations), seizing 107 criminal vehicles and machines, impounding NT$88.94 million in assets, applying to the court for forfeiture of over NT$10 million, and indicting 80 individuals (including 5 corporations) according to the law.
Prosecutors stated that through deep analysis of cross-agency intelligence via the reporting system, they found that the illegal syndicates had formed an organized, planned, and cross-regional criminal network. Using smart cross-referencing and technological law enforcement, the task force successfully uncovered multiple illegal waste transfer stations and fleet staging areas in Taichung's Xitun District and other locations. Tracing upwards, they identified legitimate treatment facilities, factories, and transport companies across at least 9 cities and counties; tracing downwards, they found illegal dumping sites in at least 7 cities and counties.
During the project, the team dismantled six independent illegal transport fleets that worked closely with the land-hunting environmental crime syndicates. Exploiting the remote nature of state-owned land that is hard to track, they engaged in a long-term, planned, and systematic criminal model from "source to illegal transfer station to final dumping," disposing of waste in riverbeds, fish ponds, farmland, and even a military base in Taichung.
Prosecutors mentioned that immediately after the crackdown, the task force cordoned off the scenes, excavated for evidence, and ordered the source enterprises and syndicate members to bear the responsibility of restoring the sites to their original state. Preliminary estimates show the total dumped volume is at least 157,438 cubic meters, weighing 94,463 tons, with restoration costs exceeding NT$1 billion.
Prosecutors emphasized that they will swiftly and strictly prosecute any illegal acts that destroy the ecological environment and occupy state land for personal gain. They will actively seize criminal proceeds and tools, pursue criminal and administrative liabilities for relevant corporations, and show no leniency, in order to defend national territorial integrity and maintain sustainable ecological development. (Editor: Li Hsi-chang) 1150422