TAIPEI — Taiwan investigated 3,401 people in human-trafficking cases between 2021 and 2025, according to newly released Ministry of Justice data, with investigations covering labor exploitation, sexual exploitation and suspected organ removal.
The figures, reported by Taiwan News and Focus Taiwan, show that authorities investigated 1,914 people in cases involving labor exploitation, the largest category, while 1,281 were linked to sexual exploitation. Another 147 people were investigated in cases involving suspected organ removal, including 34 in 2025.
The data do not mean that every person investigated was ultimately found guilty. About 41% of the 3,401 people investigated were indicted, while 41.4% were not indicted. Focus Taiwan reported that insufficient evidence accounted for 95.9% of cases in which prosecutors decided not to indict.
Human Trafficking Investigations Hit a Five-Year High in 2023
The number of people investigated annually exceeded 600 beginning in 2022, reaching a five-year peak of 957 in 2023 before declining to 802 in 2025.
Labor exploitation represented about 56% of all investigations during the five-year period. Meanwhile, investigations involving sexual exploitation increased from 168 people in 2021 to 309 in 2025, according to Ministry of Justice data cited by Focus Taiwan and Taipei Times.
The figures indicate that trafficking investigations encompass multiple forms of exploitation, and the Ministry of Justice notes that an individual can appear in more than one category.
Taiwan Investigates Alleged Organ-Removal Trafficking Scheme
The release of the statistics comes as prosecutors in Taoyuan pursue a separate case involving an alleged trafficking scheme in which three people were reportedly targeted for recruitment to China for suspected organ removal.
According to prosecutors cited by Focus Taiwan, the individuals were allegedly approached with offers of lucrative work and were stopped before leaving Taiwan. Seven suspects were indicted in September, with prosecutors seeking prison sentences of up to seven years.
Focus Taiwan reported that prosecutors said the alleged network used purported employment opportunities and other offers to recruit people. Authorities have warned the public to be cautious about suspicious online job offers and illicit work promoted by criminal groups.
Taiwan Strengthened Its Anti-Trafficking Law
Taiwan amended its Human Trafficking Prevention Act in 2023, expanding the scope of offenses and strengthening penalties for trafficking-related crimes. Taipei Times reported that attempted human trafficking can carry a prison term of five to seven years under the amended law.
The government says its response includes prevention programs, reviews of its anti-trafficking strategy and cooperation between public and private-sector organizations.
Taiwan has also received international recognition for its anti-trafficking efforts. Taipei Times reported that the U.S. State Department’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report placed Taiwan in Tier 1 for the 16th consecutive year, meaning it was assessed as meeting the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking.
Why the New Numbers Matter
The five-year figures provide a broader picture of trafficking investigations in Taiwan, showing that labor exploitation remains the largest category while cases involving sexual exploitation have increased over the period.
The 147 investigations involving suspected organ removal represent a much smaller share of the total, but the recent Taoyuan case demonstrates why authorities continue to monitor recruitment schemes that may use promises of high-paying work to exploit vulnerable people.
For Taiwan, the challenge now involves not only prosecuting trafficking networks but also identifying recruitment tactics early enough to prevent potential victims from being moved across borders.
With thousands of investigations recorded over five years, the latest Justice Ministry data offer a stark reminder that trafficking can take multiple forms — and that the next case may begin with something as ordinary-looking as a job offer.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
