Chiayi District Prosecutors Office Strikes Hard on Environmental Crimes: Heavy Machinery Seized in Firm Defense of National Land Conservation

CHIAYI, TAIWAN – To strengthen the investigation of environmental crimes and uphold national land conservation, the Taiwan Chiayi District Prosecutors Office (hereinafter referred to as "the Office") launched a joint enforcement operation from March 31 to April 8, 2026. This special operation, conducted in collaboration with the unified platform of police, investigation, and environmental agencies, targeted serious cases of illegal soil dumping and waste stacking that threaten land safety. The Office executed large-scale simultaneous searches, seizures, and interrogations to strictly enforce the law and prevent soil pollution in the Chiayi region.

Under the direction of the Prosecutors, a task force comprising the Chiayi County Station of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, the Seventh Special Police Corps of the National Police Agency, and the Chiayi County Police Bureau carried out raids across multiple locations. During the operation, 17 sites were searched, and 25 defendants and relevant personnel were interrogated. To disrupt the means of committing these crimes, authorities seized various tools, including:

• 5 heavy trucks

• 2 excavators

• 2 skid-steer loaders (Bobcats)

• Several computer CPUs

Following the interrogations, the Prosecutors determined that the defendants were heavily suspected of violating the Waste Disposal Act. Among them, three were released on bail. For two other defendants, the Prosecutors filed motions for detention with the Taiwan Chiayi District Court; however, following judicial review, the Court ordered their release on bail.

The Office emphasizes that illegal soil dumping not only carries criminal liability but also causes irreversible damage to farmland and the ecosystem. Moving forward, the prosecution will not only pursue criminal charges but will also strictly demand that illegal operators fulfill their legal obligation to "restore the land to its original state." We will ensure thorough accountability for the scope of all damages and will not tolerate criminal syndicates destroying our national land.

The Office calls upon the public to remain vigilant. We will maintain a high-pressure crackdown policy, leveraging cross-departmental platforms to fully safeguard environmental justice and national land security in the Chiayi region.