Fish industry executive Alex Chang Kuok Weai was apprehended by the Australian authorities last Tuesday when customs officers smelled something (literally) fishy and uncovered a smuggling operation into the country.
The 44-year-old research and development head of fish farm trading company Qian Hu Corporation was netted on Feb 2 at Adelaide Airport as customs officers found 20 plastic bags containing live and dead endangered fish concealed in his luggage, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports.
26 of the fish were listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
His arrest also sparked an international investigation and a larger operation in conjunction with Federal and South Australian environmental authorities. Three days after his arrest, officers raided two addresses in Adelaide and uncovered more CITES-listed fish, including an Asian Arowana worth almost $30,000.
According to Adelaide Now, Chang has been charged with one count of importing in breach of CITES. He will remain in custody until next month.
Photo: Australian Customs newsroom
Fish industry executive Alex Chang Kuok Weai was apprehended by the Australian authorities last Tuesday when customs officers smelled something (literally) fishy and uncovered a smuggling operation into the country.
The 44-year-old research and development head of fish farm trading company Qian Hu Corporation was netted on Feb 2 at Adelaide Airport as customs officers found 20 plastic bags containing live and dead endangered fish concealed in his luggage, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports.
26 of the fish were listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
His arrest also sparked an international investigation and a larger operation in conjunction with Federal and South Australian environmental authorities. Three days after his arrest, officers raided two addresses in Adelaide and uncovered more CITES-listed fish, including an Asian Arowana worth almost $30,000.
According to Adelaide Now, Chang has been charged with one count of importing in breach of CITES. He will remain in custody until next month.
Photo: Australian Customs newsroom