After airport officials noticed that a man’s trousers were dripping wet, his elaborate plan to smuggle live fish into New Zealand was thwarted.
If you’re considering sneaking fish into another country, it’s advisable to find a transport method better than cramming them into your pockets.
Unfortunately, this advice came too late for a Vietnamese individual traveling from Australia, who attempted to smuggle seven cichlids by concealing them in plastic bags within his trousers.
His scheme fell apart when water started to leak from the bags, catching the attention of officials.
Craig Hughes, spokesman for the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), commented: ‘This seems to be a deliberate attempt to import fish into the country without any regard for the biosecurity risks involved.
‘That’s an issue we take very seriously. The fish could carry diseases or pose a threat to native species.’
The traveler, who claimed the fish were owned by a friend, may face a fine of $100,000 for violating New Zealand’s Biosecurity Act.
