Kaohsiung: Three individuals have been apprehended for allegedly selling counterfeit car license plates manufactured in China, amid an increase in vehicle-related criminal activities, Kaohsiung police announced on Tuesday. The suspects, aged 32, 26, and 29, were arrested separately. They are accused of selling over 500 fake license plates to various buyers across Taiwan, according to police officials during a press conference. According to Focus Taiwan, the crackdown was initiated due to the rising use of fake license plates in incidents such as drunk driving and speeding, which obstruct investigations and compromise public safety. The suspects, identified by their surnames Huang, Lin, and Hsieh, reportedly advertised custom-made license plates via social media platforms. These plates were allegedly sourced from illegal enterprises in China and sold in Taiwan at prices ranging from NT$6,000 to NT$8,000 per set. Additionally, the police revealed that the suspects employed fraudulent accounts to manage their earnings from these illegal transactions. They allegedly laundered the money abroad using payment apps like Alipay and cryptocurrency methods. Authorities estimate that these illegal activities have yielded at least NT$3 million in recent profits for the suspects. The investigation has also led to the questioning of eight buyers, and the confiscation of eight sets of fake license plates. A total of 11 individuals, including the suspects and the buyers, will be referred to local prosecutors on charges of forging special certification and violating the Money Laundering Control Act. The police continue to pursue investigations to identify additional vehicles utilizing the counterfeit plates sold by the suspects.
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