Authorities make shocking discovery after getting tip from hotel worker about suspicious suitcases: 'Heard rustling sounds'
Japanese police arrested three Chinese nationals after thousands of hermit crabs were found in their suitcase.
The three Chinese suspects, Liao Zhibin, 24, Song Zhenhao, 26, and Guo Jiawei, 27, were found to have hundreds of pounds worth of live hermit crabs in their possession on the Amami Islands in Japan.
A Japanese police officer told CNN, "[A hotel worker] heard rustling sounds coming from a suitcase that was being held in storage."
The spiral-shelled hermit crab species that they attempted to steal is protected under Japanese law and is said to be a "national natural monument" because of its value culturally and scientifically.
It is unknown why exactly the men were stealing the crabs at this time, but it seems like another classic case of illegal animal smuggling.
The topic of animal smuggling is a dark and cruel one that environmentalists everywhere are fighting against.
By illegally smuggling foreign species, perpetrators can introduce invasive animals into ecosystems, disrupting their natural balance and harming native wildlife. Invasive species threaten biodiversity and strain environmental conservation efforts.
As for hermit crabs, specifically, this is a species that has already endured a lot in the face of the changing climate.
Numerous reports have stated that hermit crab species in some areas have begun using trash and waste as shells, due to the large amount of litter on the beaches.
With these hermit crabs already fighting an uphill battle, it is not a surprise that Japanese law enforcement is taking this case very seriously.
Do you think America has a plastic waste problem?
Definitely
Only in some areas
Not really
I'm not sure
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Animal smuggling and the side effects of introducing an invasive species are significantly harmful to the goal of creating a better, cleaner future for all. This is why countries, like Japan, have laws in place to safeguard against these practices.
While it varies for each country, punishments for crimes like these are often heavy fines or significant jail time.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
22 minutes ago
- CNN
Los Angeles mayor blames immigration raids for violence
The situation in Los Angeles has calmed down after protesters clashed with police over the weekend. CNN witnessed police using flash-bangs and tear gas to disperse crowds, with some hitting protesters, as well as protesters setting self-driving cars on fire. The city's mayor, Karen Bass, says she blames federal immigration raids for the escalating tensions.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Jan. 6 attack gets in the way of Republican talking points on ICE protests
Reflecting on the recent protests in Los Angeles, Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin told CNN that he considered it 'absolutely insane' to see protesters 'carrying a foreign flag.' When 'State of the Union' host Dana Bash reminded the Oklahoma senator that carrying a flag 'is not illegal,' Mullin quickly interjected, 'A foreign flag while you're attacking law enforcement, it's pretty bad.' Of course, during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Americans also saw foreign flags and rioters attacking law enforcement, and much of the Republican Party now treats those violent criminals as victims and heroes. A day before Mullin's on-air comments, U.S. Customs and Border Protection used its social media platform to issue a statement that read, 'Let this be clear: Anyone who assaults or impedes a federal law enforcement officer or agent in the performance of their duties will be arrested and swiftly prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Attack a cop, and life long consequences will follow!' That certainly seemed like an uncontroversial sentiment, except, again, Jan. 6 rioters assaulted and impeded law enforcement officers in the performance of their duties. And while they were arrested and prosecuted, and it appeared that many of them might face serious consequences, Trump returned to the White House and started handing out pardons — including to those who were convicted of violent assaults. And then there was FBI Director Kash Patel, who published a related online item of his own over the weekend: 'Hit a cop, you're going to jail ... doesn't matter where you came from, how you got here, or what movement speaks to you.' Not only did the president who appointed Patel come to the opposite conclusion when handing out Jan. 6 pardons, but the comment also brought to mind this Mother Jones report published after Patel's Senate confirmation hearing earlier this year. [Patel] hailed January 6 rioters convicted of violence against police officers as 'political prisoners.' ... Several Democrats pressed Patel on his work with the J6 Prison Choir, a group of January 6 rioters who recorded a version of the national anthem mashed up with Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The song became a mainstay at Trump's campaign rallies. Patel told Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) that he promoted the song to raise money for the families of January 6 attackers. To be sure, 'Hit a cop, you're going to jail' seemed like an undebatable point. The trouble is, in the Trump administration, it's a maxim that comes with some important fine print: 'Hit a cop, you're going to jail, unless the president likes the reason you hit a cop, in which case you're getting a pardon.' This article was originally published on
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Italian Yacht Builder Ferretti Is Involved in an Espionage Case
International intrigue at one of the world's largest yacht builders? The Italian Ferretti Group was the setting for a spy-vs-spy scenario that reportedly included private detectives shadowing an executive of the Italian builder's primary Chinese investor and recording devices hidden in several offices, according to Bloomberg. The discovery of this board-level surveillance has prompted two criminal cases, now in the hands of Italian prosecutors. In April 2024, Xu Xinyu, an executive director at Ferretti SpA, noticed two men in an SUV outside Ferretti's headquarters in Milan. Xu also sits on the board of the Weichai Group, which acquired the Ferretti Group in 2102, when the builder of Riva Yachts, Custom Line, CRN, and other brands was in financial trouble. More from Robb Report Say Hello to Robb Report en Español, the New Benchmark for Global Luxury in Spanish A Luxe Midcentury Duplex in London's Mayfair Just Listed for $25 Million Red Sox Legend David Ortiz's Former Miami Mansion Lists for $11.5 Million Xu also observed the pair following him while visiting hotels in the city, Bloomberg reported. He hired a counter-surveillance company, which reportedly found a listening device and signal amplifier hidden in his office. Other devices were found in the offices of Ferretti's Chinese-Italian translator and board secretary. The story cites unnamed sources who claimed relations between Weichai and some executives at Ferretti had deteriorated because of a proposed stock buyback program that would have allowed the repurchase of 10 percent of the shares. The buyback plan was briefly examined by the Italian government under a special 'golden' provision that allows it to oversee 'strategic' Italian brands with foreign ownership. A very small percentage of Ferretti's boat production is for the defense sector, thereby placing it in the strategic category. The Chinese members of the Ferretti board, comprised of six Chinese and three Italians, were initially against the buyback proposal, according to the sources. That decision, according to Bloomberg, caused dissension between Ferretti CEO Alberto Galassi and some members of the board. In March 2024, Galassi formally notified the Italian oversight committee of the buyback initiative. But that was earlier than the Chinese directors had expected. Bloomberg's sources say they thought the Chinese board members worried that Galassi could be using 'the golden share rule to sideline them by seeking allies in the Italian government.' The stock buyback proposal was withdrawn by the end of the month. Ferretti issued a statement denying that Galassi had gone against the board's wishes, according to Bloomberg. It said the notification 'was carried out with the formal and definitive approval of the Board of Directors.' The statement went on to say that 'the relationship between the shareholders and the company is excellent, marked by ongoing collaboration and mutual respect.' Ferretti did not immediately respond to Robb Report's request for comment. Following the discovery of the surveillance on Xu and others, some of the board members reportedly suspected it might have originated with Ferretti's upper management. Xu initiated a criminal case against 'persons unknown' in May 2024, for unauthorized access to a computer system and unlawful interference in private life. In January 2025, following an internal investigation, the Ferretti Group filed its own complaint with the Milan prosecutor's office. 'Ferretti SpA considers itself an aggrieved party, having been wronged by the unlawful and improper installation of surveillance devices within its offices,' the statement said. Ferretti says there is no tension between it and Weichai. 'The shareholder and the company have enjoyed a relationship of mutual esteem and full, constructive collaboration for over 10 years,' the brand said in a statement to Bloomberg. The cases remain in the initial stages of investigation, with no certainty that any criminal charges will be pursued. Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article.
