Japanese police have arrested three Chinese men after discovering thousands of protected land hermit crabs stuffed into their luggage.
The unusual case unfolded in the city of Amami, where the suspects had checked into a hotel, unknowingly setting off alarm bells with the contents of their bags.
Hotel staff first noticed something odd when the men asked them to hold onto their suitcases. The sound of rustling coming from inside raised suspicions, prompting staff to contact local environmental authorities. What they found was startling—six suitcases packed with an estimated 160 kilograms of live hermit crabs.
The men—identified as Liao Zhibin, Song Zhenhao, and Guo Jiawei—had already left the hotel when the discovery was made. They were arrested after returning the following day. Authorities say the men did not have permission to possess or transport the crabs, which are legally protected in Japan.
The crabs belong to a species recognized as a “natural monument” due to their ecological and cultural value. Under Japanese law, capturing or transporting these animals without a permit is illegal. The species is especially vulnerable because of its limited habitat and growing demand in the exotic pet trade.
Each hermit crab can fetch up to 20,000 yen, or about $137, in Chinese markets, where keeping them as pets has become increasingly popular. This rising demand has made them a target for smugglers looking to make a quick profit, often at the expense of fragile ecosystems.
Police are now investigating whether the suspects intended to sell the crabs in China or keep them personally. In either case, their actions have triggered serious legal consequences, and the seized animals are being handled by conservation experts to determine if they can be safely returned to the wild.
Japan has ramped up enforcement of wildlife protection laws in recent years, especially as international trafficking networks continue to target rare and endangered species. This latest case serves as a reminder of how human greed can threaten even the smallest members of the animal kingdom.