Customs officials in Luohu, in south China’s Guangdong Province, have intercepted 229 live hillstream loaches concealed beneath the skirt of an inbound passenger, authorities said.
The incident occurred when the passenger entered the customs inspection area without declaring any items and was subsequently selected for a routine check. During the inspection, officers discovered two red-and-white plastic bags tied to
the inside of the woman’s long black skirt. The bags contained 229 live fish, later identified as hillstream loaches by the Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine Technical Center of Shenzhen Customs.Chinese Customs Intercept 229 Live Fish Smuggled Under Passenger’s Skirt in Shenzhen
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Customs officials in Luohu, in south China’s Guangdong Province, have intercepted 229 live hillstream loaches concealed beneath the skirt of an inbound passenger pic.twitter.com/7CUPXNkMPP
Hillstream loaches are freshwater fish adapted to fast-flowing streams, with pelvic fins that have evolved into suction-cup-like structures. Native mainly to mountainous streams across Asia, the species is widely regarded as a distinctive ornamental fish.
However, under Announcement No. 470 jointly issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the General Administration of Customs, hillstream loaches are listed in the Catalogue of Animals, Plants and Other Quarantine Items Prohibited from Being Carried or Mailed into the People’s Republic of China. As such, their import into the country is strictly prohibited
The case has sparked widespread discussion on social media platform Weibo, where users condemned the smuggling attempt despite the fish’s ornamental value. “Such an outrageous incident is truly shocking. Customs officers’ vigilance is clearly not for show,” one user commented.
Another netizen called for strict enforcement of the law, saying the incident was about more than illegal possession. “This is not just about a few fish; it concerns national biosecurity and ecological protection. There should be zero tolerance for actions that endanger the ecosystem and undermine the legal order,” the comment read.
Customs authorities have not yet disclosed further details regarding penalties or legal action in the case.
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