There were noises coming from the suitcases: What the police found inside will outrage animal lovers
Three men were arrested on Japan’s Amami Islands after being caught with thousands of protected hermit crabs stuffed into suitcases.
Three Chinese nationals were arrested on Japan’s Amami Islands after being found with thousands of protected hermit crabs hidden in suitcases. The suspects—Liao Zhibin (24), Song Zhenhao (26), and Guo Jiawei (27)—were caught with 160 kilograms (about 353 pounds) of the live crabs.
The incident occurred on Amami Oshima, part of a holiday destination near Okinawa known for its rich biodiversity.
The case came to light when hotel staff in Amami became suspicious of the men’s luggage. “They heard rustling sounds coming from a suitcase that was being held in storage,” a police officer told CNN.
When police inspected the luggage, they discovered spiral-shelled hermit crabs crammed into six suitcases. Authorities believe the crustaceans were being illegally transported, although the suspects’ motives remain unclear.
Wildlife smuggling on the rise around the world
“Our investigation is ongoing to identify whether they had [the crabs] to sell them, or to keep them as pets, or to eat them,” a police spokesman told the news agency AFP following the arrests on Wednesday. “We are reviewing all possibilities.”
According to the BCC, “the crabs can be worth up to ¥20,000 ($135 USD), according to the Japan Times."
The species of hermit crab involved has not been specifically identified, but police confirmed to CNN that the animals are designated as “national natural monuments” in Japan and are therefore protected under national law due to their “cultural and scientific value”.
Upon returning to the hotel on Wednesday, the three men were promptly arrested for possessing the protected species without the required permissions. The case has drawn attention not only because of the large number of animals involved but also due to the serious environmental implications involving with removing an animal from its ecosystem.
The Amami archipelago, where the incident occurred, lies just north of Okinawa and is well known for its unique and fragile ecosystem. The region is a popular destination for nature lovers and tourists, and the illegal capture of wildlife threatens its ecological balance.
Japanese authorities have not released further information on the shocking case regarding the abhorrent behaviour of the individuals, but they are treating the incident as a serious breach of environmental law.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, wildlife smuggling is on the rise around the world, with an Interpol report in February noting that “nearly 20,000 live animals, all endangered or protected species, were seized in a global operation from November 11 to December 6 last year.”
“Organised crime networks are profiting from the demand for rare plants and animals, exploiting nature to fuel human greed,” Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said in the report. “This has far-reaching consequences: it drives biodiversity loss, destroys communities, contributes to climate change and even fuels conflict and instability.”
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