Yesterday, a man was arrested at the Hong Kong airport after customs found 30 kilos of “suspected” European eels – which are critically endangered – in the incoming passenger’s two pieces of check-in luggage. The man was arriving from Lisbon, Portugal via Dubai.
Baby eels are a delicacy in Japan and European countries like France and the UK. According to a 2013 Telegraph article, the cost of baby eels have hit GBP4 (HKD43) for a 20-gram portion in the past.
The slimy critters have been caught being smuggled into Hong Kong at least three times this year so far; it appears as though this suspected criminal was somewhat less ballsy than those from Jan. 5 (109 kilos of eels), and Feb. 10 (48 kilos of eels).
Any person found guilty of importing endangered species without a permit or license can be hit with a maximum fine of HKD5 million and two years’ imprisonment.
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