8 Indicted in New Taipei 'Towing Cockroach' Scam; 2 Main Suspects Released on Bail
The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office has indicted a 'towing cockroach' gang of 8, including main suspects Mr. Tsai and Mr. Hsu, for extorting high towing fees by concealing quotes and threatening to impound vehicles. The detained suspects, Tsai and Hsu, were transferred to the court today and were released on bail of NT$200,000 and NT$100,000 respectively, with residency restrictions.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 19:51
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(CNA, Reporter Tsao Ya-yen, New Taipei, 20th) The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office has busted a 'towing cockroach' gang suspected of extorting high towing fees by concealing price quotes and threatening to impound vehicles, recently indicting eight individuals, including main suspects Mr. Tsai and Mr. Hsu. The detained suspects, Tsai and Hsu, were transferred to the court today and were respectively released on bail of NT$200,000 and NT$100,000, with their residences restricted.
Recently, controversies involving 'towing cockroaches' have frequently occurred in northern Taiwan, where unscrupulous towing operators allegedly exploit the anxiety of people with vehicle breakdowns to charge exorbitant fees. In March, New Taipei prosecutors and police arrested eight people, and the two main suspects, Tsai and Hsu, were detained and held incommunicado. The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office recently concluded its investigation, indicting the eight individuals and seeking heavy sentences for the main suspects.
Tsai and Hsu, who were in custody, were transferred to the New Taipei District Court for a hearing today. In the afternoon, a detention hearing was held, where the judge determined that there was no need for continued detention. Tsai was ordered to post bail of NT$200,000 and Hsu NT$100,000, and both were placed under residency restrictions.
According to prosecutors, the group's criminal method involved first placing numerous ads online. When contacting people, they would deliberately provide unclear quotes and send extremely long and unreasonably priced quotation lists. They exploited the victims' urgent and anxious state to induce them to hastily agree. After the towing was completed, the group would then demand high fees of tens or even hundreds of thousands of NT dollars.
If a victim refused to pay, group members would threaten them with forceful impoundment of their vehicle and send people to surround and pressure them on site. At least five victims are currently known. Prosecutors, considering that the main suspect Tsai denied the charges, sought heavy sentences of 6 years and 2 months, and 3 years and 10 months, respectively, under the Enhanced Fraud Prevention and Control Act and the Organized Crime Prevention Act. Hsu, who confessed to the crime, faces a requested sentence of 1 year and 10 months. (Editor: Lin Shu-Hui)
Recently, controversies involving 'towing cockroaches' have frequently occurred in northern Taiwan, where unscrupulous towing operators allegedly exploit the anxiety of people with vehicle breakdowns to charge exorbitant fees. In March, New Taipei prosecutors and police arrested eight people, and the two main suspects, Tsai and Hsu, were detained and held incommunicado. The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office recently concluded its investigation, indicting the eight individuals and seeking heavy sentences for the main suspects.
Tsai and Hsu, who were in custody, were transferred to the New Taipei District Court for a hearing today. In the afternoon, a detention hearing was held, where the judge determined that there was no need for continued detention. Tsai was ordered to post bail of NT$200,000 and Hsu NT$100,000, and both were placed under residency restrictions.
According to prosecutors, the group's criminal method involved first placing numerous ads online. When contacting people, they would deliberately provide unclear quotes and send extremely long and unreasonably priced quotation lists. They exploited the victims' urgent and anxious state to induce them to hastily agree. After the towing was completed, the group would then demand high fees of tens or even hundreds of thousands of NT dollars.
If a victim refused to pay, group members would threaten them with forceful impoundment of their vehicle and send people to surround and pressure them on site. At least five victims are currently known. Prosecutors, considering that the main suspect Tsai denied the charges, sought heavy sentences of 6 years and 2 months, and 3 years and 10 months, respectively, under the Enhanced Fraud Prevention and Control Act and the Organized Crime Prevention Act. Hsu, who confessed to the crime, faces a requested sentence of 1 year and 10 months. (Editor: Lin Shu-Hui)