Yilan County, Taiwan — Authorities in Yilan County uncovered an underground labor operation during a dawn raid, arresting three suspected brokers and 57 Thai nationals allegedly working illegally.
According to the National Immigration Agency (NIA), the investigation began after receiving intelligence that overstaying migrants were being employed at a local restaurant. On September 9, a special task force under Yilan District Prosecutor Kuo Ting-yu (郭庭瑜) simultaneously raided five locations connected to the scheme.
Investigators identified the alleged ringleader as a man surnamed Yu (游), who reportedly recruited Thai nationals through informal networks. The migrants were housed in two rented multi-story buildings in Wujie Township, which had been converted into makeshift dormitories.
To avoid drawing attention, residents kept doors and windows closed, while some were assigned to act as lookouts. Authorities who had maintained overnight surveillance launched their operation at daybreak, first detaining a guard posted on the ground floor before entering the compound.
Conditions inside were described as cramped and unsanitary. The dormitories lacked air conditioning, with only fans providing ventilation. Partitions made of curtains or thin wooden boards divided the living spaces, and nearly 40 people were found sleeping on the floor in one of the units. Some of those apprehended had only just arrived in Taiwan before being funneled directly into illegal employment.
The group reportedly operated like an organized labor brokerage. Thai team leaders were appointed to oversee the dormitories, while daily work assignments—ranging from farm labor to restaurant cleaning—were distributed via messaging apps. Workers were transported to job sites in vans, and in certain cases, employers arrived at the compound themselves to select and pick up laborers.
Authorities said the setup effectively turned the facility into an underground labor market, with the arrested brokers facing prosecution under immigration and labor laws. The detained Thai nationals are undergoing further investigation to determine their residency status and possible deportation.
