He wanted to return from Switzerland to Germany via the motorway customs at Weil am Rhein (D). But the customs officers stopped the German (46) – and found a plastic box with 17 live woolly crabs in the trunk of the car. The animals were again packed in a plastic bag in the box.
The 46-year-old had assured the customs officers that he was not carrying any goods. After the officials discovered the animals, he claimed to have brought the crabs back to Switzerland from Germany.
Upon closer inspection and research, the customs officials discovered that the shellfish was a prohibited, invasive species of crab from China, which was first introduced from there in the last century. The crab is displacing native species of crabs and thus disrupts the ecosystem considerably.
Zoo dealer takes care of the animals
According to an EU regulation, the animals are subject to trade, transfer, possession and breeding prohibitions. A violation of this is an administrative offense and can be punished with a fine of up to 50,000 euros.
The animals were confiscated and handed over to a zoo dealer who is now temporarily looking after the crabs. The responsible Federal Agency for Nature Conservation decides what happens to them. It also judges how high the penalty is for the crab smuggler. (jmh)