Customs officers in Luohu, South China's Guangdong Province, recently intercepted 229 live hillstream loaches hidden under the skirt of an inbound passenger. Photo: web

 
Customs officers in Luohu, South China's Guangdong Province, recently intercepted 229 live hillstream loaches hidden under the skirt of an inbound passenger.

When the passenger entered the customs inspection area without declaring any items, she was selected for inspection. Officers then found two red and white plastic bags tied to the inside of her long black skirt, containing a total of 229 live fish. The fish were later identified as hillstream loaches by the technical center of animal and plant inspection and quarantine of Shenzhen Customs.

Hillstream loaches are freshwater fish adapted to fast-flowing streams. Their pelvic fins have evolved into suction cup structures. They are mainly found in Asian mountain streams and are considered distinctive ornamental fish.

According to Announcement No.470 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the General Administration of Customs, hillstream loaches are listed in the "Catalog of Animals and Plants and Other Quarantine Items Prohibited from Being Carried or Mailed into the People's Republic of China" and are banned from entry.

Many netizens on Weibo said that although this type of fish is mainly used for ornamental purposes, it should not be brought into the country illegally. "Such an outrageous incident is truly shocking. The customs' sharp eyes are not for show!" A netizen said.

"Such blatant disregard for the law must be met with severe punishment to serve as a stern warning. This is not just about a few fish; it's about protecting our national biosecurity and maintaining social order. We must have zero tolerance for such selfish actions that potentially endanger our ecosystem and disrespect our legal system," said another.