Travellers fined for attempting to smuggle pest fish through Melbourne Airport 
By Sowaibah Hanifie AU Source: 7news 4/26/2024
Sowaibah Hanifie
Two travellers have been fined $54,000 in a Federal Court ruling for attempting to smuggle 240 fish through Melbourne International Airport.

One man was initially fined $420 for attempting to smuggle 120 live ornamental fish into the country in December 2019.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry launched an investigation when the same man and a business partner made a second attempt to bring in live fish in January 2020.
 

The fish are considered invasive species and were discovered packaged in fish bags placed in multiple cooler bags.

Biosecurity authorities said the travellers failed to declare the fish on their incoming passenger cards.

The Federal Court found both travellers guilty of contravening the Biosecurity Act in April 2024.

The man received a $37,000 penalty, while his business partner was fined $17,000.

 
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