CAPE TOWN – There have been some bizarre places in which people have tried to smuggle lobster or crayfish – like on a plane.
A hearse can now be added to one of the more creative – albeit unsuccessful – ideas.
No less than 5 441 smuggled crayfish tails were found in the back of a hearse in Gordon's Bay on Thursday, said Western Cape police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut.
Thanks to a tip-off, the police alerted fisheries officials. A man has been charged after the crayfish tails – valued at about R54 100 – were found in a body bag inside the vehicle.
In September, police seized crayfish worth R6.5 million along the N2 near Grabouw.
Two men were arrested after a total of 12 807 crayfish tails and 377 whole crayfish were found in a car during a stop-and-search operation
In March 2016, a passenger attempted to smuggle a giant lobster on a plane. It was found in carry-on baggage – packed in Styrofoam – during the X-ray process.
The passenger had been heading home to southern China from Australia. The tourist claimed he was bringing the live 3kg lobster home as a delicacy to enjoy with his family.
Sadly for him, the officials at Shanghai airport would have none of it and destroyed the man’s dinner plans — literally.
In February 2016, a video of live lobsters being jammed into a suitcase on a train in Hong Kong was shared on social media.
Two women are seen struggling to close the item of luggage after arranging the large and lively shellfish inside.