[bbfan1991]

A man has been caught trying to smuggle fish into New Zealand in his trousers.



Airport officials found the fish in his pockets after noticing his trousers were dripping wet. He originally said he was carrying water from the plane because he was thirsty.

The Vietnam resident had been travelling from Australia with seven cichlids hidden in plastic bags, which began to leak.

Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) spokesman Craig Hughes said: "This appears to be a deliberate attempt to smuggle fish into the country without any consideration of the biosecurity risk involved.

"That's something we take very seriously. The fish could have been carrying diseases or have the potential to displace native species."

The traveller claimed the fish belonged to a friend but now faces a fine of up to £50,000 ($77,000) for breaching New Zealand's Biosecurity Act.

Smells fishy.