Man tries to smuggle fish inside his trousers
Published: 2013 August 30 15:55:49 (6328 Views)
A man's attempt to smuggle live tropical fish into New Zealand in his trouser pockets floundered when water was spotted dripping from his clothes, officials have said.
The Vietnamese national travelled from Australia to Auckland earlier this week and airport officials suspected something was fishy because liquid was seeping from the bulging pockets of his trousers, the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) said.
The man initially said he was carrying water from the plane because he was thirsty.
However when questioned further and searched, customs officers found seven fish hidden in plastic bags in his pockets.
The passenger told them he was bringing the fish into the country for a friend.
The fish were all unidentified species of cichlid.
MPI spokesman Craig Hughes said the man will face charges under the Biosecurity Act, which carries maximum penalties of five years in jail or a NZ$100,000 (£50,000) fine.
"This appears to be a deliberate attempt to smuggle fish into the country without any consideration of the biosecurity risk involved," he said in a statement.
"That's something we take very seriously. The fish could have been carrying diseases or have the potential to displace native species."
Australia and New Zealand have some of the strictest rules in the world when it comes to transporting lives animals.
Even if the species of fish was permitted to enter the country it would be required to go through strict quarantine procedures.
- OrangeNews
The Vietnamese national travelled from Australia to Auckland earlier this week and airport officials suspected something was fishy because liquid was seeping from the bulging pockets of his trousers, the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) said.
The man initially said he was carrying water from the plane because he was thirsty.
However when questioned further and searched, customs officers found seven fish hidden in plastic bags in his pockets.
The passenger told them he was bringing the fish into the country for a friend.
The fish were all unidentified species of cichlid.
MPI spokesman Craig Hughes said the man will face charges under the Biosecurity Act, which carries maximum penalties of five years in jail or a NZ$100,000 (£50,000) fine.
"This appears to be a deliberate attempt to smuggle fish into the country without any consideration of the biosecurity risk involved," he said in a statement.
"That's something we take very seriously. The fish could have been carrying diseases or have the potential to displace native species."
Australia and New Zealand have some of the strictest rules in the world when it comes to transporting lives animals.
Even if the species of fish was permitted to enter the country it would be required to go through strict quarantine procedures.
- OrangeNews
0
You May Like These Videos
WATCH: Victims Narrate Ordeal After Being Clobbered By Riot Cops
FLASHBACK: Morgan Tsvangirai Won't Resign Despite Illness 
Police Violently Beat Harare Protesters 
Zimbabwean Man Who Was Shot By Tswana Employer Appeals For HelpComments
There are no comments.
Get Zim Metro Updates Alerts
Big Reads
Schoolgirl drops out after continuous 'sexual abuse' by teacher
by Staff Reporter | 2019 August 13 07:42:33
Mugabe Knows Nothing About The Zimbabwe Constitution: MP
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 08:12:02
Zim's Protesting Graduates Risk Losing Degrees For Expressing Anger Against Mugabe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:57:08
Troubled Harare Giants Dynamos Falls Into Another Deep Crisis
by Own Correspondent | 2016 October 01 07:49:17
Grace Mugabe Grovels At Mnangagwa, Says I Did Not Ask Ubaba To Fire You
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:31:48
Mugabe Attacks Mawarire, Claims The Exiled Pastor Failed To Divide Zimbabwe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:19:13
Shock As Local Bank Denies 'Rich' Mugabe's Son Heifty Credit
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 30 19:14:54Trouble For Police Officers Who Have Been Mercilessly Bludgeoning Protesters
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:20:19
Mugabe "Home Coming" And "Thank You" Rally On Cards
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 23 06:48:24
Prof Moyo Was Dumped By Western Embassies, Claims Mutsvangwa
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 10:08:07Broke RBZ Tracks Down Zimbabweans Living Outside The Country Over Taxi
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 09:16:20
You Are Too Old To Lead, Aging Zim President Mugabe Told
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 22 07:19:25
Anti-Corruption Commission Loses Property In Failed Probe
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 03:18:19
.jpg)
SHOCKING:14 Year Old HIV-Positive Boy Rapes 7 Pupils
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 00:04:55
