Taiwan Aquarium Owner Jailed for Smuggling Endangered Species

Nine-Month Sentence Handed Down for Importing King Cobra and Other Protected Animals

Taipei, Taiwan – A Taiwanese aquarium owner has been sentenced to nine months in prison for illegally importing protected wild animals, including a king cobra, into Taiwan via express shipping. The Chiayi District Court delivered the verdict, highlighting the seriousness of wildlife trafficking.

The court documents revealed that the defendant, a man surnamed Su (蘇), ordered the shipment from Jakarta, Indonesia, containing one king cobra and six Asian water monitors. The shipment was disguised as "snacks" on the customs declaration.

On February 24, 2021, Su (蘇) used the EZ Way app, a real-name authentication platform, to authorize FedEx to handle customs declaration for the package. When customs officials inspected the package, they discovered the live wild animals and promptly notified authorities.

The case was referred to the Chiayi District Prosecutors Office. Su (蘇) denied any knowledge of the contents, claiming he didn't know what was in the package but completed the import form due to the high volume of packages received by his aquarium business.

However, the court found Su's (蘇) explanation unconvincing, citing his active use of the EZ Way app and the matching consignee information. The court emphasized that Su (蘇) would not have authorized the customs declaration without knowing the contents.

The king cobra and Asian water monitors are listed as protected wildlife species by Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture and are also regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The court found Su (蘇) guilty of violating the Act on Wildlife Conservation. The ruling can still be appealed.