Taiwan Raids Supermicro Offices in AI Chip Smuggling Probe

The Keelung District Prosecutors Office and the Taiwan Coast Guard raided the offices of Super Micro Computer Inc., Albatron Technology, and Chief Telecom on June 29, 2026. The operation targeted 12 sites, including six residences, as part of an investigation into the smuggling of high-end Nvidia AI chips to China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Authorities intercepted more than 50 servers and seized cash and luxury cars in May, leading to the subsequent raids.

A Taiwan court ordered the detention of two Supermicro employees and a general manager from Albatron Technology on charges of document forgery and breach of trust. Investigators allege suspects used forged paperwork and Southeast Asian middlemen to bypass U.S. export controls, in some cases using hair dryers to move serial numbers from high-end servers to dummy hardware to deceive inspectors. Some shipments were reportedly routed through Japan.

This probe runs parallel to a U.S. Department of Justice case where Supermicro co-founder Yih-shyan Wally Liaw was charged in March for his role in an alleged $2.5 billion smuggling scheme. Because Taiwanese law does not currently criminalize AI chip exports to China, prosecutors are utilizing forgery charges while lawmaker Chung Chia-pin proposes amendments to the Foreign Trade Act to criminalize such exports.

Supermicro shares fell up to 9% following the news. The company has placed four employees on administrative leave and maintains it is not the target of the investigation, stating it is cooperating with law enforcement and has a zero-tolerance policy for law violations.