Kinmen Authorities Enhance Border Security Against Live Animal Smuggling

The Kinmen District Prosecutors Office is taking a proactive stance to bolster border security by enhancing preventative measures against the smuggling of live animals. This initiative comes in response to a significant increase in such activities, with at least five cases of live animal smuggling recorded within a 40-day period between June and July. Prosecutors noted that the frequency of these incidents is unusually high, potentially the highest in recent years.

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When law enforcement discovers anomalies, immediate cross-agency intelligence sharing and integration should occur to enhance smuggling early warning effectiveness.

Prosecutors highlighted that the smuggling of live animals and insects, particularly from mainland China, poses a serious threat to Kinmen's border security. To combat this, the office convened a joint defense meeting with various agencies operating at Kinmen's ports, including customs, immigration, quarantine, and security (CIQS) authorities, as well as police and administrative bodies. This meeting, the second of its kind this year, focused on improving inter-agency collaboration.

District Prosecutor Zhao Yanli emphasized the need for immediate cross-agency intelligence sharing and integration when any unit detects anomalies during law enforcement. The goal is to connect fragmented information and enhance the effectiveness of early warnings against smuggling activities. For organized or cross-border smuggling cases, a joint defense approach is crucial to trace people, goods, and finances, thereby pursuing criminal networks and identifying their origins.

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For group or cross-border smuggling cases, the joint defense function should be leveraged to thoroughly investigate people flow, logistics, and capital, pursuing the behind-the-scenes criminal network and tracing its origins.

Authorities also addressed the issue of "water customers" (shui ke), individuals who frequently transport goods across the border, urging relevant agencies to remain vigilant and utilize legal measures for early intervention. The principle of "nipping problems in the bud" is key to strengthening border management and preventing illicit actors from exploiting loopholes. The Kinmen District Prosecutors Office reiterated its commitment to close cooperation with all CIQS, police, and administrative agencies to swiftly investigate and prosecute all forms of smuggling and cross-border crime, thereby safeguarding national border order and the authority of the state.

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Relevant authorities should increase vigilance, make good use of laws, and handle matters early with the concept of 'nipping problems in the bud' to strengthen border management, so that illicit elements do not have an opportunity.