Ministeries praise efforts to combat environmental crimes

• By Chen Chia-Yi and Sam Garcia / Staff Reporter with a staff author

The Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice today organized an event that honored the police and prosecutors, which have made the outstanding contributions to the investigation of environmental offenses.

The environmental police and the public prosecutor set up a cooperative platform in 2011 to cope with criminal pollution cases that extend over cities and counties, said the Ministry of Environment.

According to the ministry, a total of 3,503 cases for law enforcement were transferred last month in which more than 12,000 people were involved.

Premier Cho Jung-Tai (卓榮泰) praised the success of the police and public prosecutor in his comments at the event.

Without its hard work, “only the Ministry of National Defense could be able to take such measures to protect our country, mountains and rivers,” said Cho.

Anyone who harms the environment would be fully pursued by the law, he said.

In particular, the Prime Minister called out cases in which local officials worked with criminal groups to achieve personal profit and expressed hope that the environmental police and the public prosecutor would continue to deter these illegal activities.

Environment Minister Peng Chi-Ming (彭啟明) said that those at the front of environmental cases often have to carry out ambulance at night, which can be challenging and shocking.

His ministry would work with the Ministry of the Interior to solve the long -term question of excess rock and soil from the construction work, Peng said in the hope of completely eliminating waste problems in Taiwan.

Interior Minister Liu Shyh-Fang (劉世芳) said that the Ministry would implement and enforce rules that require excess rock and soil to be recycled, which reduced the probability of illegal activities.

Justice Minister Cheng Ming-Chien (鄭銘謙) said that in January and February an interministerial Task Force examined 71 cases in which 369 people were involved, which have taken 32 people and 90 machines and vehicles, as well as more than $ 500 million ($ 15.65 million).