TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan investigators have determined that the bodies discovered around the waters of Taiwan over the past two months were likely not victims of foul play or human trafficking.
According to the relevant task force composed of police officers and cost guards, ten bodies were identified as Vietnamese, while nine Taiwanese men and five women also washed up on shore around the same time.
One remaining body has yet to be identified.
The ten Vietnamese nationals discovered on a beach in Taiwan last month were likely trying to return to Taiwan to work after being deported for working illegally.
The group had bought a boat to travel from China to Taiwan, but their boat probably capsized due to bad weather. Four women are still missing, and it is unknown if they survived.
One of the men had tried to swim to safety but died from exposure and dehydration. Investigators are still searching for the missing Vietnamese women to determine whether human traffickers or criminal organizations were involved.
Nine Taiwanese men and five women also washed up on shore between February and March, but investigators said their deaths were accidental or suicides.
Prosecutors last month formed a task force to investigate the deaths with the help of Vietnamese authorities.