Taiwan enacted border controls as part of its efforts to contain coronavirus disease 2019, banning the entry of foreigners. Recently, a Taiwan-registered fishing vessel made an attempt to smuggle 31 Vietnamese nationals into the country, but was spotted to the southwest of Liuqui Island. The Coast Guard Administration boarded the vessel and followed disease prevention measures while interrogating the illegal immigrants.
Captain, please turn off the motor.
The Coast Guard Administration orders the captain of a fishing vessel to get ready to be boarded after noticing suspicious activity as the vessel sailed in the waters to the southeast of Liuqiu Island. The CGA discovered the vessel was carrying numerous illegal immigrants. CGA personnel were unnerved as the majority were not wearing face masks.
Hold out your hands, hold out your hands.
Upon boarding the vessel, Coast Guard personnel wearing protective clothing, masks, and protective goggles disinfected the hands and took the temperatures of the illegal immigrants. They also handed out masks. Taiwan previously enacted border controls as a disease prevention measure, which included banning the entry of foreigners. This boat, which was registered in Taiwan, was carrying 31 illegal immigrants from Vietnam and attempting to smuggle them into Taiwan.
The inspectors wore protective clothing and masks during the entire process, and isolated them during the interrogations. Kaohsiung's Cieding District Public Health Center and Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine personnel will handle the quarantine work.
The illegal immigrants were interrogated on shore in a well-ventilated location with transparent partitions separating them. Prosecutors also questioned them via videoconference, and filed a request to detain two Taiwanese crew members for violating the Immigration Act. The 31 illegal immigrants will be sent to a quarantine center, and prosecutors will determine whether to prosecute them after they complete the 14-day quarantine.