The alleged mastermind behind a recent attempt to smuggle cats into Taiwan was detained in Kaohsiung on Friday at the request of local prosecutors.
The detention of the 42-year-old man, identified by his surname Lin (?), who owns an animal breeding facility in Yanchao District, came after the key suspect was questioned by prosecutors the previous night.
The case was reported on Aug. 21, two days after 154 cats from China were found onboard a fishing boat off the coast of Anping District, Tainan, when boarded by the Coast Guard.
A variety of breeds including Russian Blue, Ragdoll, Persian American Shorthair, and British Shorthair, were discovered in 62 cages. They were euthanized two days later over fears of rabies, which is endemic in China.
The fishing boat skipper told prosecutors that he was hired by a man surnamed Chang (?) to smuggle the cats for NT$3,000 (US$107) a day, and was asked to meet with a Chinese vessel in international waters off the coast of Huayu in Penghu County, to pick up the cats and bring them to Taiwan proper.
The skipper's statement led to the detention of Chang, a 50- year-old ex-Coast Guard officer, and his 49-year-old accomplice, surnamed Kuo (?), at a private residence in Fengshan District on Aug. 24.
Prosecutors found that Chang had hired the skipper and other crew members to smuggle the cats into Taiwan, and that Kuo was in charge of dealing with pet shop owners and fixing equipment on the ship to transport the animals.
Chang and Kuo are being held incommunicado for their alleged involvement in the smuggling operation, while the captain was released on NT$60,000 bail.
Although Lin denied being linked to the smuggling operation when questioned, he was ordered detained by the court after prosecutors indicated they consider him a key suspect in the case.
Meanwhile, Kuo was found to have frequented Lin's breeding facility, and checks of Lin's cellphone records show that he sent a text message instructing Kuo to "keep three cats in each cage to rack up greater profit."
Nearly 30 high pedigree dogs, including French bulldogs, Malzis, a Siamese cat and 65 boxes of cigarettes, were also spotted on Lin's breeding facility. An investigation is being conducted to determine if they were also smuggled into Taiwan, prosecutors said.
Lin was asked to hand over his cellphone, but claimed that he had left it in a taxi, insisting he only asked Kuo to purchase fish for him via the cellphone, prompting prosecutors to ask for his detention.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel