Taiwan: 16 arrested over illegal cockfighting
Police in southern Taiwan have arrested 16 people for alleged involvement in illegal cockfights.
Taiwan.- Police have busted an illegal cockfighting venue in southern Taiwan and arrested 16 people for allegedly gambling. According to local media reports, police received a series of complaints about an illegal gambling den, leading officers to carry out a raid at the rural house.
When police entered the house, they found 16 people, including the owner. Police seized NT$347,900 (US$12,177), five gamecocks, timers, the cockpit and account books from the premises. After the raid, police referred those arrested to the prosecutor’s office for gambling. Under Taiwanese law, the maximum fine for gambling at a private casino is NT$9,000.
Operating a gambling venue carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of up to NT$90,000. Cockfighting operators can also face additional penalties for violating animal welfare laws.
