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Woman smuggled fish in trousers


Gatortailale

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http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/19144873

 

Woman smuggled fish in trousers

7 June 2005

An Australian woman was found to be carrying 51 live tropical fish after custom officials were alerted by "flipping" noises coming from beneath her skirt as she arrived at Melbourne airport.

 

On closer inspection, officers discovered the woman had strapped on an apron of plastic water-filled bags containing the fish, the Australian Customs Service said.

 

"During the search, customs officers became suspicious after hearing 'flipping' noises coming from the vicinity of her waist," said the statement.

 

The 43-year-old woman arrived in Melbourne on a flight from Singapore last Friday. Customs are still trying to determine what type of fish she brought into the country and have not yet charged her with an offence.

 

She could face charges for breaking quarantine and customs laws for bringing in the fish without giving a declaration.

 

A search of the woman's home in Melbourne found another five fish.

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Guest Larry-T

Actually, this was a fairly seriouis offense and could cost this woman quite a bit of money. Australia has had tremendous problems with invasive wildlife, since its an isolated habitat not subject to the same level of competitive conflict as are more connected parts of the world. So when outside organisms are introduced, they have a tendency to displace existing species and overpopulate like crazy. Australia has had some huge problems with the cane toad and rabbits, so they have extremely tough laws against introducing wildllife without it being a species that has been explicitely permitted.

 

So this woman was a jerk and has probably set back the aquarium hobby in Australia by a decade or so.

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