An animal trafficker caught with 20 pregnant dead seahorses hidden in his suitcase has been seized by customs officers in Germany.
Horrified inspectors discovered the creatures packed into a styrofoam container as they searched the suspect’s luggage at Berlin Brandenburg Airport on 17th May.
He told police he had bought the seahorses from a dealer in Vietnam for EUR 5 (GBP 4) and said he had planned to exhibit them.
Now, say customs official, he is facing a fine of up to EUR 50,000 (GBP 42,551) under animal protection regulations.
Main Customs Office Potsdam spokesperson, Christiane Ullrich said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “Seahorses are listed in Appendix B of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation. This is the second-highest protection category.”
She added: “The import and export of these species into and out of the EU are strictly regulated and generally require prior authorisation from a wildlife conservation authority of an EU member state.
“However, the traveler could not provide such authorisation.”
Ullrich continued: “Therefore, customs officials confiscated the animals and informed the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation.
“If penalised, the traveler faces a fine of up to EUR 50,000 [GBP 42,551].”
Customs officials in Germany seized more than 54,000 protected animals, plants, or goods derived from them last year.
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Story By: Georgina Jedikovska, Sub-Editor: Georgina Jedikovska, Agency: Newsflash
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