Japanese police arrested three Chinese citizens on a resort island after discovering thousands of protected hermit crabs in their multiple pieces of luggage.
According to authorities near the Amami Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, on Wednesday, May 7, the three suspects, identified as 24-year-old Liao Zhibin, 26-year-old Song Zhenhao, and 27-year-old Guo Jiawei, were found carrying 160 kilograms (353 pounds) of live hermit crabs.
Police stated that a hotel staff member in Amami City on Amami Oshima Island noticed something suspicious about the luggage the three men were requesting to be taken care of and alerted the environmental department.
An officer told CNN, “They heard a rustling sound coming from a stored suitcase.”
Authorities reported that when officers arrived at the hotel, they found the hermit crabs crammed into six pieces of luggage.
According to Kyodo News, the three men were arrested on Wednesday upon their return to the hotel for unauthorized possession of these crustaceans.
It is currently unclear why these individuals were transporting the crustaceans.
Police did not provide further details on the specific species, but informed CNN on Friday that the intercepted hermit crabs are designated as “National Natural Monuments” in Japan due to their cultural and scientific value, and are protected under Japanese law.
The Amami Islands are a series of islands located between Kyushu and Okinawa. They belong to Kagoshima Prefecture at the southern tip of Japan and are a popular tourist destination known for their rich native flora and fauna. The islands boast lush forests, rare flora and fauna, beautiful beaches, and other breathtaking scenery.
Within Kagoshima Prefecture, there are three species of hermit crabs found in locations like the Amami Islands: Coenobita purpureus, Coenobita rugosus, and Coenobita cavipes. These seized hermit crabs may face challenges in being reintroduced into the wild and are currently being temporarily housed in conservation facilities within Amami City, potentially for transfer to aquariums and research facilities in the future.