A traveler surnamed Liu (劉) has been detained for allegedly trying to smuggle insects from Malaysia and Japan into Taiwan for a second time, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine said yesterday.
Importing live insects is a contravention of Article 15 of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Act (植物防疫檢疫法), as the introduction of harmful species could severely impact Taiwanese agriculture and affect the national ecological balance, the bureau said.
The bureau said that Liu had made his first attempt to smuggle 254 insects from Malaysia earlier this month.
Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine
Liu allegedly prepared insect specimens to present to quarantine officials while keeping the live insects in his suitcase, but the attempt was foiled when quarantine officials became suspicious and asked customs officials to inspect Liu’s suitcases, the bureau said.
Liu yesterday allegedly tried to smuggle 143 insects from Japan, but was again discovered by bureau officials, it said.
Liu faces a possible prison sentence of three years, which could be accompanied by a fine of NT$150,000, bureau officials said.
The bureau said it, along with the Customs Administration, would be stepping up inspections, and warned people not to attempt to break the law and fail to report items that should be inspected.
Separately, the Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday indicted a 26-year-old Thai woman, identified only as Ramita, for alleged contravention of the Wildlife Conservation Act (野生動物保育法).
Ramia had entered Taiwan on Nov. 10 last year, bringing with her 30 Indian star tortoises and four black-throated monitors, the office said.
Ramita’s act could be due to a growing trend in Taiwan of people who want to have exotic pets, like snakes and lizards, instead of animals like cats or dogs, it said.
Ramita said that she had been asked to bring the package to Taiwan and deliver it to another Thai known as Aun, and that she was not aware that the package contained the animals.
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