Taiwan police have smashed a criminal ring of Philippine officials and naval officers that has been extorting money from seized Taiwan fishing trawlers, media reported Friday.
Alleged ring-leader Hsu Chih-yi was arrested when he arrived at the Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei Thursday, however, police have no jurisdiction over the Filipinos, local news source reported.
In April 2006, several Taiwanese tuna trawlers were intercepted by Philippine warship No 168 and 386 in the waters between Taiwan and the Philippines.
Philippine naval officers boarded the trawlers and took the captains into custody, accusing them of trespassing into Philippine waters.
The captains paid thousands of dollars to release their vessels.
Through phone taps, Taiwan’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) agents learned Hsu and several Philippine officials and naval officers masterminded the seizure of the ships.
Hsu, who lives in southern Taiwan, used his connections to a Philippine naval officer to ‘assist’ the captains by telling them how to deposit cash to an account in the Philippines to secure the release of their trawlers.
BCI has not asked the Philippine police to arrest the local officials and naval officers involved in extorting money from Taiwan boat captains for fear of hurting bilateral ties, reported the news source.