TAIPEI - TAIWANESE authorities said on Thursday they had smashed the island's largest people smuggling ring, which had transported more than 40 Chinese children to the United States.

74 Taiwanese were questioned about various roles in the operation which was thought to have netted at least NT$100 million (S$4.56 million) said an official at the Immigration Bureau.

The suspects allegedly purchased personal data on children from the island's aboriginal villages in order to apply for Taiwanese passports for mainland children, the official said.

Some 30 women, known as 'transport mommies' were then commissioned to take the passports to Hong Kong to meet the children and then travel with them to the US, earning between US$1,000 (S$1,500) and US$1,500 , he said.

The children were mainly travelling to met their parents who were living illegally in the US, he added.

The suspects face charges of forgery and violating immigration law, which is punishable by a maximum five-year prison term and a fine of up to NT$2 million. -- AFP