Australian authorities seize more than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches in what officials describe as the largest-ever bust of such invertebrates in the country. The haul is taken from a commercial breeder in Bathurst, in New South Wales, with the seizure carried out in May and linked to a Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water investigation. The cockroaches include Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia cockroaches. Officials say both species are illegal to import into Australia and also illegal to keep, breed, or sell under current rules. Multiple outlets report the insects are potentially being sold for use as food for pet reptiles and other animal-keeping purposes, with some describing the market value as about A$200,000 (US$142,000) and street value estimates reaching around $240,000 depending on the source. Authorities describe the operation as an illegal cockroach-breeding scheme involving live insects and seek to stop their distribution and possession within Australia.
Australia seizes 100,000 illegal exotic cockroaches from Bathurst breeder
Australian authorities seize more than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches in what officials describe as the largest-ever bust of such invertebrates in the country. The haul is taken from a commercial bre...
- Authorities seize more than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches in Australia in a single operation.
- The cockroaches are taken from a commercial breeder in Bathurst, New South Wales, in May.
- The species seized include Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia cockroaches.
- Officials say the species cannot be legally imported or kept, bred, or sold in Australia.
- Outlets report the insects are valued at roughly A$200,000 (with some higher street-value estimates) and may be sold as food for pet reptiles.
On June 5, Australian authorities announced that they confiscated more than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches from an unnamed commercial breeder in Bathurst, a town in New South Wales (NSW), about 200 kilometers (124 miles) west of Sydney. It was the largest bust of illegal invertebrates ever made in the country. The insects were estimated to […]
2 months agoWhile some, like me, believe cockroaches are a vile menace that should be exterminated with extreme prejudice, others actually believe it’s their duty to make more of them and then sell them for a major profit. According to Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, that enthusiasm has grown into a thriving exotic […] The post Officials in Australia Just Seized 100,000 Illegal Live Cockroaches Worth $142,000 appeared first on VICE.
2 months agoWildlife officers have busted an illegal cockroach-breeding operation in rural Australia, seizing a skin-crawling haul worth more than $100,000 on the black market for exotic bugs.
2 months agoThe haul of live insects included dubia cockroaches and Madagascar hissing cockroaches. Authorities said it was the country's biggest-ever seizure of illegal exotic invertebrates.
2 months agoWildlife officers have busted an illegal cockroach-breeding operation in rural Australia, seizing a skin-crawling haul worth $100,000 on the black market for exotic bugs.
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