Three Chinese arrested in Japan: protected hermit crabs smuggled

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Drei chinesische Staatsangehörige wurden in Japan verhaftet, nachdem tausende geschützte Einsiedlerkrebse in ihren Koffern entdeckt wurden. Die Umweltbehörden ermitteln weiter.
Three Chinese citizens were arrested in Japan after thousands of protected hermit crabs were discovered in their suitcases. The environmental authorities continue to determine. (Symbolbild/DNAT)

On a Japanese holiday island, three Chinese citizens were arrested after thousands of protected hermit crabs were discovered in several suitcases. The suspects - Liao Zhibin (24), Song Zhenhao (26) and Guo Jiawei (27) - had a total of 160 kilograms of the living crustaceans. This was reported by the authorities of the Amami Islands, which are near Okinawa.

arrest of the suspects

A hotel employee in Amami, a city on the island of Amami Oshima, had alerted the environmental authorities after he noticed that there was something suspicious of the three men's suitcases for whom the hotel staff had taken over the storage. According to a police officer, the employees expressed that they had heard noises from a suitcase that indicated the presence of animals.

The crucial note

When the officers finally arrived at the hotel, they discovered the hermit crayfish, which were housed in six suitcases. On Wednesday, the men were arrested for the possession of the crustaceans without the necessary approval. Details about why the men transported the crustaceans were not announced.

protection status of the hermit crayfish

The police gave no further information about the exact type of hermit crayfish, but made it clear that the confiscated animals in Japan were classified as "national natural monuments". This classification is based on its cultural and scientific value and protects them according to Japanese law.

the amami archipelago

The Amami Archipelago is located in the southwest of Kyushu and north of Okinawa. It is a popular tourist destination and known for its diverse flora and fauna, which includes many local plant and animal species.