Security at Taoyuan International Airport is in the spotlight once again, after an R.O.C. national flew to South Korea’s Incheon International Airport on May 24th with a live cat in his checked-in luggage.

The Aviation Police Bureau yesterday admitted they were unaware of the incident until informed by Korean authorities.

Police say initial investigations have found that during security checks, the airport’s X-ray machine detected an unknown item in the suitcase but did not realize the object was a live cat.

 

The cat’s owner has been identified as R.O.C. national Qin You-hao.

Qin was fined $547 US dollars after the cat was discovered in his suitcase in South Korea.

Although he has acknowledged the animal was the family’s pet, Qin says he was unaware the cat had sneaked into his luggage.

The cat will be shipped back to Taiwan once the Korean side issues a rejection certificate.

The animal will then be placed in quarantine for between 21 and 180 days.

 

More in Related News

Mistaken Stowaway Cat Survives 10-hour Journey in Suitcase ABC News Sept. 13, 2012

Stowaway Cat in 2,000-mile Journey MSN News UK July 3, 2013

 

Image via Focus Taiwan, courtesy of the Airport Police Bureau