TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In a sweeping environmental crackdown that has sent shockwaves through Taiwan's restaurant industry, prosecutors on Thursday (March 13) indicted 18 individuals under the "Waste Disposal Act" (廢棄物清理法) for their roles in an elaborate toxic waste scheme that netted more than NT$300 million in illicit profits.
The investigation, spearheaded by prosecutor Lin Ssu-yin (林思吟), has exposed what authorities are calling Taiwan's largest environmental crime to date, implicating several of the island's most recognized dining establishments, including Noble Family Steak House (貴族世家), Formosa Chang (鬍鬚張), The Ambassador Hotel (國賓飯店), and New CB Party (星聚點).
At the center of the scandal is a man surnamed Tsai, whom prosecutors have identified as the operation's mastermind. Since 2010, Tsai has allegedly conducted grease trap maintenance for numerous food businesses despite lacking proper permits. Investigators determined he illegally disposed of more than 13,000 metric tons of waste oil sludge over the years, personally pocketing over NT$200 million in illegal gains. Other contractors involved in the network amassed tens of millions more through unauthorized waste disposal activities.
The sophisticated operation employed various tactics to evade detection. Prosecutors revealed that operators issued counterfeit invoices and systematically destroyed internal documentation. In a particularly calculated move, employees were instructed to delete cloud-stored waste transport records just before investigators conducted raids.
The environmental implications are severe. Laboratory analysis of the illegally dumped waste uncovered alarming levels of heavy metals and toxic chemicals, posing significant threats to groundwater systems, water sources, and agricultural soil throughout affected areas.
The Shilin District Prosecutors Office (士林地檢署) emphasized that this investigation marks only the beginning of a broader initiative. Officials pledged to intensify their probe into corporate environmental violations, signaling a new era of rigorous enforcement to prevent future environmental crimes.