Airline Passenger Deported after Failing to Pay Huge Fine for Bringing Pork
AIRLINE PASSENGER – An Indonesian national was issued a fine of around Php 360,000 for bringing in pork in Taiwan.
Currently, several countries across the nation are implementing a ban on pork entry. It is in the pursuit of preventing and fighting the spread of the African swine fever or ASF which has affected several nations worldwide.
The African Swine Fever has greatly affected the global population of domestic and wild pigs. While there are countries that were greatly affected by the ASF, there are also those that remained free from the virus like Australia.
Thus, several countries have airport bans on pork products. Recently, an airline passenger was fined huge in Taiwan for bringing in a roasted chicken and pork combination packed in his lunch box.
Based on a report of Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the airline passenger who got fined NT$200,000 or around Php 360,000 was an Indonesian national. The passenger came from Hong Kong.
The Taiwanese Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said that the Indonesial national arrived in Hong Kong on April 30. A quarantine dog sniffed out the combination of roasted chicken and pork packed in a lunch box.
Based on the report, the airline passenger was not able to pay the fine implemented by Taiwan’s customs officials over the roasted chicken and pork food. The traveller was deported.
Aside from Australia, Taiwan is also one of the countries that implement fines for bringing pork products from countries affected with the African Swine Fever. It is one of the Asian countries not affected by the disease.
The country implements a $NT200,000 fine and it increases to $NT1 million for subsequent violation of the quarantine rule. In the case of Australia, the country implements fines of up to $6,260 for travellers who fail to declare high-risk goods like pork.