Police in Japan’s Amami Islands have arrested three Chinese nationals after discovering thousands of live hermit crabs—classified as protected species—stuffed into multiple suitcases.
The suspects, identified as Liao Zhibin, 24, Song Zhenhao, 26, and Guo Jiawei, 27, were detained on Wednesday after officers found 160 kilograms (353 pounds) of hermit crabs inside six suitcases at a hotel on Amami Oshima island, near Okinawa.
The case came to light when a hotel worker in Amami alerted local environmental authorities after noticing something unusual about the luggage left by the men. “They heard rustling sounds coming from a suitcase that was being held in storage,” a police officer told CNN.
Authorities found the spiral-shelled hermit crabs packed tightly into the suitcases. When the three men returned to the hotel, they were arrested for possession of the crustaceans without proper authorization, according to Kyodo News.
Police have not disclosed the motive behind the transport, and the exact species of hermit crab was not specified. However, officers confirmed to CNN that the crabs are considered “national natural monuments” due to their scientific and cultural importance and are protected under Japanese law.
The Amami archipelago, located between Kyushu and Okinawa, is known for its rich biodiversity and attracts both tourists and conservationists.
