Taipei prosecutors on Thursday disclosed a probe into three people suspected of arranging the export of high-performance AI servers produced by Super Micro that contain Nvidia processors subject to U.S. export controls.
The Keelung prosecutors said the suspects - whose full names were not released - allegedly knew the servers were subject to strict U.S. restrictions and were prohibited from being sold to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Prosecutors said the defendants are accused of conspiring to buy the servers in Taiwan and then declare them for export using false documentation and incorrect information in order to seek "huge illegal profits."
In a related development earlier this year, U.S. authorities charged three people connected with Super Micro, including a company co-founder, with assisting in the smuggling of at least $2.5 billion of U.S. AI technology to China in violation of export laws.
Prosecutors in Keelung said that on Wednesday they had instructed Taiwan's coast guard to execute searches at 12 locations. The searches included the residences of the three suspects and premises linked to related companies. Officials said evidence was seized and that the three defendants and associated witnesses were either detained or summoned for questioning.
Super Micro and Nvidia did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Both companies have stated that they are committed to complying with U.S. export laws.
Taiwan is a major global producer of advanced semiconductor chips that power the recent surge in artificial intelligence applications. Authorities on the island already maintain strict rules intended to prevent sensitive high-technology products and know-how from reaching mainland China - which claims Taiwan as its territory - a position Taipei strongly disputes.
The investigation underscores ongoing enforcement around export controls involving sophisticated AI hardware and highlights the cross-border legal and regulatory issues that can arise when high-performance computing equipment is moved internationally under disputed documentation.