How do you pass through Taiwanese immigration with 20 live Hong Kong hairy crabs? Just get them cooked at the airport…
Taiwan immigration officers say passenger could not import raw hairy crabs into island, but cooked products were fine
A quick-witted Taiwanese man carrying 20 raw hairy crabs from Hong Kong came up with an idea when he was told by immigration officers in Taipei that raw seafood could not be imported – he proposed to cook it.
The passenger, a Cathay Pacific “diamond” member – the highest level in the Marco Polo Club – was travelling back to Taipei on Friday with the crabs when officers at Taoyuan International Airport told him he could not bring raw seafood into the island.
But he was told it could be imported if it was cooked.
According to Taiwan’s Apple Daily newspaper, the man then sought help from a member of Cathay’s ground staff at the baggage claim area. The employee took him to the airline’s VIP lounge on the departure floor without going through proper immigration channels.
The passenger then asked restaurant staff at the VIP lounge to cook the crabs for him, but he was rejected because the kitchen was outsourced. He left for the arrival area with the Cathay employee and passed a restaurant, asking again whether they could cook the crabs for him.
Restaurant staff agreed to cook one crab because the passenger was a frequent patron, not realising the man had 20 crabs with him.
