Prosecutors in Taiwan detained an Nvidia employee as part of an investigation into alleged smuggling of AI servers into China — powered by Nvidia's advanced chips in violation of U.S. export controls.
The Keelung District Prosecutors Office identified the suspect by his surname, Chang, saying he was summoned for questioning after investigators searched his residence and workplace last week. The statement didn't name his employer, but Bloomberg and Reuters reported he is an Nvidia employee, with the search targeting the chipmaker's Taipei office.
Prosecutors determined there was a "strong suspicion of criminal activity" and detained Chang over concerns he could flee or destroy evidence. The statement does not accuse Nvidia of wrongdoing.
This follows the **U.S. Justice Department's March arrest of Super Micro co-founder Yih-Shyan "Wally" Liaw**, charged with allegedly smuggling billions of dollars worth of Nvidia AI chips to China through a Southeast Asian company. The alleged operation generated $2.5 billion in revenue for Super Micro.
An Nvidia spokesperson said smuggling is a "nonstarter" for the company, adding that any diverted chips would receive "no service, support or updates."
