To prevent the invasion of African swine fever, the Kaohsiung City Special Task Team of the Southern District Affairs Brigade of the National Immigration Agency (NIA, 移民署南區事務大隊高雄市專勤隊) formed a special investigation team and recently discovered that a Vietnamese spouse in Chien Chen District of Kaohsiung City (高雄市前鎮區) is suspected of selling Vietnamese mooncakes online. It was reported to Kaohsiung City Public Prosecutor Mao Li-Ya (毛麗雅), who directed an investigation. After conducting a search to trace the buyers in Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Taichung, a total of 16 Vietnamese mooncakes weighing 3.7 kg, multiple account books, consignment records and mobile phones were seized as evidence. The NIA sent all the Vietnamese mooncakes to the Kaohsiung City Animal Protection Office (高雄市動物保護處) for inspection, and the results showed that the mooncakes contain the African swine fever virus. The prosecutor and the NIA will continue to expand their investigations.
The Kaohsiung City Special Task Force, under the command of the prosecutor of the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office, went to the residence of Vietnamese spouse surnamed Ho to search and seize evidence such as moon cakes, account books, consignment notes and mobile phones. (Photo/Provided by the Kaohsiung City Special Task Force)
The Kaohsiung City Special Task Force conducted a search of the residence of a woman surnamed Ho and found an empty Styrofoam box on the spot. (Photo/Provided by the Kaohsiung City Special Task Force)
The woman surnamed Ho (何) who sells Vietnamese mooncakes came from Vietnam and got married in Taiwan two years ago. She is engaged in the business of selling Vietnamese mooncakes on internet social apps. After search, discovery and reports by the Kaohsiung City Special Task Team, the District Prosecutor's Office gave instructions to conduct a search of the residence of the woman surnamed Ho. An empty Styrofoam box was found, but no Vietnamese mooncakes were found. The investigation found that Ho was selling the mooncakes using live videos online and other marketing methods. The sales of mooncakes were very good, and only 6 of them were kept for her own consumption. The dedicated team traced the buyers. One of them, a Vietnamese spouse surnamed Li in Dali District, Taichung City (臺中市大里區), told NIA personnel that she saw Ho selling mooncakes full of Vietnamese hometown flavors on the Internet, so she planned to buy some for use during Vietnamese traditional festivals’ worship. She was only able to purchase 2 mooncakes with a price of NT$160 each. The staff of the special team confiscated and sent the suspected mooncakes for inspection and will cooperate with the prosecutor to direct the investigation and continue to trace the source and distribution channels of this batch of Vietnamese mooncakes and the different buyers.
The Kaohsiung City Special Task Force, under the command of the prosecutor of the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office, discovered that Vietnamese mooncakes were found to be infected with African swine fever virus. (Photo/Provided by the Kaohsiung City Special Task Force)
The Kaohsiung City Special Task Force discovered that Ho was posting information about selling Vietnamese mooncakes on the Internet. (Photo/Provided by the Kaohsiung City Special Task Force)
Chao Chi-Cheng (趙志成), the head of the Kaohsiung City Task Force, said that the African swine fever virus was found in the seized mooncakes, and epidemic prevention work must not be relaxed. The source and the destination of the meat products from illegal sources will continue to be traced. The public is also urged to cooperate with the Central Emergency Operation Center's (中央災害應變中心) instructions not to bring animals or plants into the country. Also, the public is reminded not to purchase products with unknown origin or unclear labels. Importing meat from epidemic areas into Taiwan in violation of regulations can be punished with a fixed-term imprisonment of not more than 7 years or a fine of not more than NT$3 million. Chao Chi-Cheng also reminded new immigrants that the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and they must not buy illegally imported meat just because they miss their hometown taste. The NIA will continue to cooperate with relevant units and strengthen the inspections of general merchandise shops, Vietnamese restaurants, and traditional markets in the jurisdiction, to protect the health and safety of the Taiwan people and of the high-quality Taiwan pig industry.
The Kaohsiung City Special Task Force discovered that Ho was posting information about selling Vietnamese mooncakes on the Internet. (Photo/Provided by the Kaohsiung City Special Task Force)
