Student caught smuggling 125 insects at Australia airport, officials say
A university student was caught trying to smuggle more than 100 insects, many of them protected species, out of Australia, officials said.
The student, identified by Australia’s 7NEWS as a 22-year-old from China, was stopped in January at Sydney International Airport, where his luggage was inspected.
Investigators found “hidden packages” containing 125 insects, including banded huntsman spiders, carabid beetles, an atlas rainforest beetle, a giant rainforest centipede and a banded desert centipede, according to a Nov. 3 news release from Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Officials said 76 of the specimens were “regulated native species.”
“The live animals in this case were sent to Taronga Wildlife Hospital for care and identification,” officials said, adding that many insects don’t survive smuggling attempts.
Under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, “exporting native wildlife without a permit is illegal,” and offenders “face penalties of up to 10 years in prison, fines of up to $330,000, or both,” according to the release.
The student pleaded guilty to all charges, officials said. He was convicted and fined $35,000.
This story was originally published November 5, 2025 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Student caught smuggling 125 insects at Australia airport, officials say."
