Police have arrested two people and seized 24kg of gold intended to be used to launder money, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said yesterday.
An investigation by the bureau’s Telecommunications Second Investigation Corps showed that 169 people had been affected in investment scams set up by the suspects, with total losses of about NT$600 million (US$20.32 million), the CIB said.
In January, a task force raided a site in Taichung, the CIB said, adding that the cash or cryptocurrency scammed from people was being converted into gold through laundering networks and sent to a call center in Cambodia.
Photo provided by the police
On June 9, police intercepted two packages bound for Cambodia and Vietnam sent by a man surnamed Chen (陳), it said.
The packages contained what looked like lead alloy doorstops for metal gates, which were seized, it said.
The next day, the task force arrested a man surnamed Lee (李) and seized 12 unpackaged gold bars during a raid in Taichung, it said.
Photo provided by the police
Another four doorstops were found at Chen’s residence, it said.
The doorstops were cut open and their alloy exteriors dissolved, revealing gold bars inside, the CIB said.
A total of 24kg of gold was seized, with an estimated value of NT$77.42 million based on exchange rates posted by the Bank of Taiwan on June 10, it said.
The two men, both 40 years old, are being investigated and face fraud and money laundering charges, the CIB said.
Receipts showed that the shipments began in July last year, so more than 300kg of gold might have been laundered in Taiwan and shipped overseas, it said.
The lead alloy covering the gold was to help hide the precious metal during X-ray scans at airports, the CIB said.
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