TAIPEI: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has launched a search for a Taiwanese man reportedly abducted and held for ransom by a criminal group in Southeast Asia. The 27-year-old, identified only by his surname Hsieh, was last in contact with his family on December 25, seeking tens of thousands of U.S. dollars to secure his release.
According to Focus Taiwan, Hsieh informed his family that he was being coerced into participating in telecommunications fraud while being held hostage. Taoyuan police have pinpointed his last known location based on phone data to Myanmar, intensifying concerns about his safety. The family filed a missing person report with Taiwan's representative office in Myanmar on December 27.
MOFA, in a news release, confirmed that efforts are underway to locate Hsieh using his phone's last known coordinates and information from his family. The ministry emphasized it is employing all available channels to resolve the situation. The police have categorized Hsieh's disappearance as a major criminal case, given his profession as a fire dancer and the circumstances surrounding his last communications.
Authorities have issued a caution to Taiwanese citizens traveling to Southeast Asia, highlighting an increase in reports of individuals being forced into criminal activities by gangs operating in Myanmar. The ministry stressed the importance of vigilance among travelers to the region to avoid similar incidents.