Changhua: A police chief, 10 officers, and three members of Taiwan’s Coast Guard have been named as suspects by prosecutors in an ongoing investigation into a cigarette smuggling ring in Changhua. The Changhua District Prosecutors Office announced on Tuesday that these 20 individuals are suspected of violating the Anti-Corruption Act, with the police officers also facing allegations of leaking confidential information.

According to Focus Taiwan, prosecutors have requested the court to detain two of the coastal patrol officers incommunicado, while four individuals, including a coastal patrol officer, police officers, and smugglers, have been released on bail. The investigation, which began in 2023, took a significant turn when confiscated cell phones revealed the involvement of coastal patrol and police officers in leaking sensitive information and accepting bribes.

On Monday, prosecutors conducted searches at 38 locations, including the Coast Guard Administration Investigation Branch, several precincts of the Taichung City Police Department, and various departments of the Changhua County Police. A total of 28 individuals were brought in for questioning as part of this extensive probe.

A source familiar with the investigation disclosed that those involved in the smuggling ring allegedly conducted illegal queries about the license plates of official vehicles. This raised concerns about potential information leaks to the targets of police investigations and the possible acceptance of bribes.