The Environmental Management Administration (EMA) under the Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office, Taoyuan City Department of Environmental Protection and Police Department, formed a task force to track down a man surnamed Wu who colluded with a waste removal operator. Under the pretense of farmland preparation, they had backfilled farmland with untreated construction waste, breaking Article 46 of the Waste Disposal Act. 
The task force launched multiple search operations and conducted night ambushes, seizing 15 removal vehicles as they returned to their parking location. Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office concluded the investigation and indicted 11 individuals and four companies, demonstrating the government's commitment to combating environmental crime.
The criminal syndicate first purchased farmland in Taoyuan City under the names of relatives and friends. They then mortgaged the purchased farmland to banks for cash. 
Subsequently, the syndicate excavated and sold the original soil and rock from the farmland down to a depth of seven meters to create "sinkholes." They then transported and backfilled the land with surplus construction soil and a large quantity of mixed construction waste. 
After meticulous evidence collection, in March 2025, Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office ordered coordinated searches and excavations at three farmland sites. The investigation confirmed the land had been backfilled with construction materials, including waste such as scrap rebar, discarded wood, and plastic debris.
The EMA stated that the illegal backfilling of construction material severely damages farmland fertility and affects the ecological balance, thereby possibly causing soil and groundwater pollution. Offenders and syndicate members were charged under Article 46 of the Waste Disposal Act, with penalties including imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of up to NT$15 million.
The EMA said the government will not tolerate any illegal dumping that damages national land or pollutes the environment. It will continue to employ inter-agency cooperation and technological tools to thoroughly crack down on environmental crime networks. 
Additionally, the administration reminds all landowners that providing land for unauthorized backfilling or dumping of waste without official approval also constitutes a criminal offense under Article 46 of the Waste Disposal Act and should not be taken lightly.