Taiwan Quick Take: Man nabbed with birds

A passenger was nabbed at CKS International Airport for bringing in live birds from China, officials of the Taipei Customs Office reported yesterday. The customs officials said the four Japanese White-eyes were found in a bird cage hidden in the carry-on luggage of the passenger, surnamed Chen, on Tuesday night. Chen claimed that he was returning from Shanghai via Hong Kong and that the four songbirds were his pets. Chen and the birds were handed over to the Hsinchu branch of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine. The officials said China is listed as a bird flu-affected area and that those who violate regulations aimed at preventing contagious animal diseases face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to NT$150,000 or both. Japanese White-eyes, or Mejiros, are relatively small songbirds with an average height of about 110mm.