Taiwanese 'gangster' arrested in Qld

A Brisbane chef has been arrested over alleged links to a Taiwanese crime syndicate which police say has been operating illegal call centres from Queensland homes.

Taiwan national Sheng-Jiun Huang appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with dealing with more than $50,000 which could become an instrument of crime, and supporting a criminal organisation.

Australian Federal Police allege the 32-year-old is a member of a Taiwan-based syndicate which specialises in identity crime and fraud, and involves the servitude of many foreign nationals.

Last month, police raided a house in Calamvale in Brisbane's south where about 25 Taiwanese were allegedly enslaved to work in a "boiler room" scam.

The slaves were allegedly tricked into coming to Australia and forced to work in a call centre extortion scam targeting people in China.

Police allege Huang was responsible for renting a number of properties, and that between March and September this year $317,000 was deposited into his bank account from a syndicate member in Taiwan.

Huang has been in Australia for four years on a working visa and until his arrest lived with his Taiwanese wife at the Emporium complex in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley.

Applying for bail, Huang's lawyer Yang Tung said Huang had been a chef at the Sono restaurant for two years and had no prior convictions.

The Commonwealth opposed the bail application amid allegations a witness had been threatened and that two suspected gang members had been intercepted at Brisbane Airport and had told police they were looking for a witness.

Magistrate Judy Daley refused to release Huang, saying the case appeared strong and there was a risk he could flee or obstruct the course of justice.

His case was adjourned until March 14, when Huang's co-accused are due to have their matters mentioned.