Taiwan Raids Super Micro, 6 Homes in Nvidia Chip Smuggling Probe
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 1
Taiwan Raids Super Micro, 6 Homes in Nvidia Chip Smuggling Probe
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 1
Summary
Taiwan investigators searched Super Micro’s local office, the homes of six people and three affiliated companies on Monday, widening a probe into alleged illegal exports tied to China.
Prosecutors said the case centers on claims that Nvidia chips were smuggled into China using Super Micro servers, though they did not publicly identify all targets of the searches.
A person familiar with the matter said Super Micro’s Taiwan office was among the sites raided as the Keelung District Prosecutors Office deepened its investigation.
The case adds to pressure on Super Micro after earlier raids and allegations that its co-founder Wally Liaw was charged over $2.5 billion in server smuggling, underscoring scrutiny of routes around US curbs on advanced AI chips to China.
A co-founder is charged with smuggling. Can Supermicro's internal compliance ever be trusted again?
How will this billion-dollar smuggling case impact Taiwan's alignment with US tech export policies?
Do crackdowns on chip smuggling stop China’s AI progress, or just accelerate its push for self-sufficiency?
Supermicro Under Fire: Taiwan Raids Uncover Alleged NVIDIA AI Chip Smuggling to China Amid US Export Crackdown
Overview
In June 2026, Taiwanese authorities raided Super Micro Computer Inc.'s offices as part of a major investigation into the alleged smuggling of advanced NVIDIA AI chips into China. The probe revealed that Supermicro's servers may have been used to bypass strict US export controls, with chips reportedly routed through Japan before reaching China. Investigators seized about 50 servers before they could leave Taiwan, highlighting the effectiveness of coordinated enforcement. This incident underscores the growing international effort to prevent China from acquiring cutting-edge AI hardware, reflecting the tightening of global technology supply chains and increasing compliance risks for companies involved.