Three men sentenced over Taiwan’s largest cat-smuggling case

Three men, including a former coast guard officer, were found guilty and sentenced for attempting to smuggle 154 cats from China to Taiwan in 2021.

Taiwan’s Supreme Court sentenced Zhang Fangyi and Zheng Changjia to one and a half years in prison, while Guo Minhao was sentenced to one year and two months suspended for four years.

According to evidence presented to the court, on August 19, 2021, the fishing boat Shunfa 88 departed from the Badouzi Fishing Port in Keelung City, and rendezvoused with a Chinese vessel in waters near the Penghu Islands in the Taiwan Strait. The smugglers transferred 154 cats to the Taiwanese vessel.

Taiwan coast guard personnel intercepted the boat as it approached Anping Port in Tainan City, and escorted the boat to the Port of Kaohsiung. An inspection of the vessel revealed a secret compartment in the Shunfa 88, containing 154 cats of valuable breeds, including Russian blue, ragdoll, Persians, British short-hair, Munchkin, and Maine Coon cats. The market value of the cats was estimated at around NT$2 million.

Despite protests from animal rights activists, the cats were all euthanized due to quarantine regulations. The case shocked the nation and even drew condemnation from Taiwan’s then President, Tsai Ing-wen. The cat-loving spinster President promised to review the system and amend laws so that smuggled animals can be treated more humanely.

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