Police Crackdown in Taoyuan: Illegal Casino and Fake Wellness Centre Busted
Taiwanese police in Taoyuan’s Guishan district have stepped up enforcement against crime hotspots, uncovering both a hidden gambling den and a sham wellness centre offering sexual services. The operations were part of a wider national campaign targeting illegal gambling, vice activities and organised crime.
Authorities revealed that one of the major busts involved a makeshift casino hidden inside a remote tin-roof structure. Officers had been conducting weeks of surveillance before raiding the site with a search warrant. Inside, they found professional gaming tables, chips and evidence of ketamine use. The chaotic scene included gamblers discarding playing cards into nearby woods in an attempt to destroy evidence. More than 30 gamblers were detained along with the alleged ringleader, card dealers and security lookouts. Police noted that with betting chips valued at about NT$100 (S$4.20) each, the daily turnover easily reached millions of New Taiwan dollars.
Investigations also showed that some gamblers consumed ketamine to stay awake through marathon sessions. Drug paraphernalia and powder traces were seized on-site. Those involved now face prosecution under Taiwan’s Gambling Act and Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, while gamblers will be fined under public order laws.
Thai Woman Arrested in Sham Wellness Centre
In a separate operation, Guishan police dismantled what was advertised as a massage parlour but in reality functioned as a front for prostitution. The case came to light after officers detected suspicious online ads promoting “special” massage services. An undercover policeman booked a session at one of the private rooms. When the officer entered, a Thai woman allegedly asked if he wanted the “full service” for NT$3,000 (around S$126).
She and the establishment’s operator were immediately taken in for questioning. Preliminary findings suggest that illegal intermediaries had been recruiting short-term visitors from Southeast Asia and placing them in disguised wellness outlets or hidden apartments to solicit clients. Beyond charges of obscenity offences, the case may also involve human trafficking and immigration law violations. Authorities are now tracing the financial flows and possible regional syndicate links.
Part of Nationwide Security Operation
The raids were conducted under Taiwan’s “Youth Project,” “Thunder Strike” and “Clean-Up Operations,” which have been in force since July. These initiatives aim to clean up crime-prone areas, combat gambling and vice, and safeguard public security. Police pledged to intensify surveillance of both physical and online networks to dismantle organised criminal activities.
For Singapore readers, the case mirrors similar regional trends where illicit businesses often disguise themselves as legitimate wellness outlets. The growing reliance on undercover policing, cyber patrols and financial tracking highlights how authorities across Asia are tackling organised vice and illegal gambling in increasingly sophisticated ways.