Taoyuan:Taipei: Just over 40 percent of individuals investigated for human trafficking-related crimes in Taiwan from 2021 to 2025 were indicted, with insufficient evidence cited as the reason for nonprosecution in 95.9 percent of cases, a recent Ministry of Justice (MOJ) report reveals.

According to Focus Taiwan, the report states that of the 3,401 people investigated, 1,914 were alleged to be involved in labor exploitation, 1,281 in sexual exploitation, and 147 in organ harvesting. The number of sex trafficking investigations increased from 168 in 2021 to 309 in 2025, while indictments for organ-harvesting cases remained below 70 annually.

The report also indicates that 41 percent of those investigated were indicted, 41.4 percent were not indicted, and 0.8 percent received deferred prosecution. Among those indicted, 35.5 percent faced charges related to offenses against personal freedom, 25.7 percent were charged under the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act, and 14.2 percent were charged under the Human Trafficking Prevention Act.

In a related development, the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office recently indicted seven people for allegedly attempting to lure three victims to China for organ harvesting. The office seeks prison sentences of seven years for the accused, who face charges of organized crime participation, attempted human trafficking, and attempted fraud.

The crime syndicate allegedly enticed victims to a residence in Taoyuan's Zhongli District with promises of lucrative work as money mules or in smuggling operations. The victims were monitored by syndicate members before plans to send them overseas were made. Prosecutors warned the public against trusting online job offers or engaging in illicit jobs like working as money mules, as these could lead to dangerous situations.