Two 'fish enthusiasts' are connected the hook for an eye-watering good aft doubly attempting to smuggle much than 100 unrecorded food into Australia successful their suitcases.
Chun Lok Chi and concern spouse Linh Thi My Chau were caught astatine Melbourne airdrome successful January 2020 with integrative bags filled with ornamental food swimming astir successful water.
The brace were slapped with a $54,000 good by the Federal Court past week pursuing an probe by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
The food were recovered to beryllium in Chun Lok Chi and Linh Thi My Chau's checked baggage arsenic they tried to participate Australia
They were caught conscionable a period aft Mr Chi tried to smuggle unrecorded food into Australia successful akin circumstances.
Mr Chi and Ms Chau were described successful the judgement arsenic being 'fish enthusiasts' who bargain and merchantability ornamental food and aquarium instrumentality connected Facebook and Gumtree.
Mr Chi archetypal caught the attraction of borderline officials connected December 29, 2019 erstwhile his suitcase raised eyebrows aft it passed done an X-ray machine.
On further inspection, the suitcase was recovered to incorporate 4 insulated bags, each containing a abstracted integrative container filled with h2o that contained unrecorded freshwater fish.
The food successful the integrative bags recovered successful Mr Chi's suitcase included plecos, arowana and snakeheads, and were not declared connected his incoming rider paper (IPC).
He was issued with a $420 infringement announcement for providing a mendacious oregon misleading IPC, which helium paid.
However, 31 days aboriginal Mr Chi again touched down astatine Melbourne airdrome connected a formation from Hong Kong with unrecorded food successful his checked baggage.
One of ornamental food that was seized by borderline officials astatine Melbourne airdrome from the 2 smugglers
The brace demonstrated remorse for bringing the food into Australia but inactive copped a hefty fine
When helium was asked what was successful his bag, Mr Chi replied: 'Fish'.
But this clip his concern partner, Ms Chau, was besides recovered with the contraband.
Asked whether determination were immoderate food successful her bag, Ms Chau replied: 'Yes, I person immoderate fish.'
On some occasions the food were euthanised and stored by the department.
Mr Chi was slapped with a $37,000 good for 2 contraventions of conception 186(1) and 1 contravention of conception 533(1) of the Biosecurity Act 201, portion Ms Chau was ordered to wage $17,000 for the aforesaid offences.
Justice Shaun McElwaine said portion the 'importations were not sophisticated' helium could not judge Mr Chi's actions were 'anything different than good planned'.
'Being caught, the contented of an infringement announcement and the demolition of the food connected that juncture was ineffective,' helium said successful his April 19 ruling.
Mr McElwaine said the brace had co-operated astatine 'all stages', demonstrated remorse and 'even pleaded guilty' connected their archetypal quality successful his courtroom.
It's the archetypal clip civilian penalties person been issued nether the scaled-up Biosecurity Act.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Murray Watt described the judgement arsenic a 'significant milestone' and a deterrent to each travellers.
'Some of the food that were attempted to beryllium smuggled into our state are considered pest taxon to Australia and they posed a immense hazard to human, carnal and works health,' helium said.
'Tough civilian penalties use to those who interruption the law, and each travellers should beryllium alert that superior breaches of Australia's biosecurity laws whitethorn effect successful civilian punishment proceedings being brought against you.
'This is simply a large illustration of wherefore we indispensable guarantee our biosecurity strategy has semipermanent sustainable backing to support our situation and cultivation sectors from exotic pests and diseases.'
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