Polish customs officers have intercepted a package posted from Hong Kong containing 39 scorpions — 32 of them still alive — addressed to a student in Poland’s south-western city of Wroclaw.
The scorpions were in a small package purportedly containing toys valued at 12 euros (US$17), according to the customs declaration made for the parcel by the sender, spokesperson for Customs Poland, Aldona Wegrzynowicz told AFP.
“We usually check packages we have doubts about, for example ones where the declared value does not correspond with the declared content. This time we had a hunch,” she said.
A vet called in by customs officials identified the creatures as Mesobuthus martensii-type scorpions, a moderately dangerous variety. Those which survived the long journey will be placed in a zoo.
Police questioned the 24-year-old student to whom the package was addressed. He admitted to an interest in exotic animals and wanted to add the scorpions to his collection.
He could face a fine of up to 50,000 zloty (US$15,905) for having violated customs laws protecting animals.
(AFP)
波蘭海關人員攔截了一包從香港寄出的包裹,收件人是波蘭西南部勒斯拉夫市的一位學生,這個包裹內有三十九隻蠍子,其中三十二隻仍是活的。
波蘭海關發言人愛朵娜.薇格齊諾維茲對法新社表示,這個小包的寄件者申報的內容物為價值十二歐元(十七美元)的玩具。
她說:「我們通常會檢查覺得有問題的包裹,例如申報價值和申報物品不符的物件。像這件我們就直覺很可疑。」
海關人員請來獸醫鑑定發現這些是毒性溫和的馬氏正鉗蠍。包裹中存活的蠍子將被送至動物園安置。
警方訊問了這位二十四歲的收件學生。他坦承他對奇特的動物情有獨鍾,希望能將蠍子納入他的收藏。
他可能因違反海關動物保護法面臨高達五萬茲拉第(約美金一萬五千九百零五元)的罰金。(法新社╱翻譯:袁星塵)
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