Australian Customs Arrest International Airline Passenger for Allegedly Smuggling Live Fish

Australian Customs has arrested and charged an international airline passenger for allegedly smuggling live fish into the country. A 34-year-old Chinese man will face Melbourne’s Magistrates Court tomorrow (28 August) charged with importing a regulated live specimen under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation ACT 1999 and making a false declaration to Customs.

The man arrived on a flight from Hong Kong on 21 August and was referred to Customs following a quarantine x-ray examination.

During the baggage examination Customs officers allegedly located a cardboard box containing 13 live fish in plastic bags.

The fish have been identified by Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts as specimens of the family Loricariidae (armored catfish).

The fish were euthanized as they are a prohibited species in Australia and are regarded as a serious environmental threat.

Acting Customs National Manager Investigations Kaylene Zakharoff said Australia had strict laws governing the import of live animals.

“This is a good example of Customs and AQIS working together at the border to protect Australia and restrict unregulated international trade in wildlife.”

The maximum penalty for importing a regulated specimen is 10 years imprisonment and or $110,000 fine.

Source: Customs Service

Net News Publisher for World News