Every year Australia's biosecurity officers intercept a range of items at airports and seaports.
Two weeks ago, Australia's Border Force intercepted a man who allegedly attempted to smuggle two squirrels into the country.
Only a month ago, American basketballer Lamar Patterson brought his French bulldog Kobe into Australia in his carry-on luggage.
Following the two incidents, here is a history of biosecurity intercepts at the Australian border:
2018
- Squirrels
- French bulldog
- Customs officers in Melbourne intercepted two child-like sex dolls in an air cargo consignment from China.
- Biosecurity officers at Sydney Airport confiscated a goat foetus.
Basketballer Lamar Patterson stashed his beloved pup in his hand luggage on his flight from Los Angeles to Australia. Source: Instagram @lamarpatterson13
- An Australian man was charged with trying to smuggle native shingleback lizards to Sweden, and also tried to bring packages into the country from Thailand containing turtles, snakehead fish, sugar gliders, chameleons and stingrays.
- A person allegedly tried to bring a bag of lizard feet into Australia through Brisbane Airport.
- Melbourne customs officers discovered live tarantulas in a box labelled "shoes" en route from Australia to Europe.
- Officials seized a crucified bat at Brisbane Airport.
- A man tried to smuggle fighting fish, live snails and shrimp into Sydney from Vietnam.
- Officers seized 5.5kg of cow dung being brought through Brisbane Airport.
2016
- A man was busted with endangered specimens including leopards, bears, lions, a grey wolf, a cheetah and an orangutan in his South Australian home.
2014
- A Czech man travelling from Dubai to Sydney was busted smuggling 16 parakeet eggs in his underwear.
- Customs officers seized 4kg of frozen frog meat at Melbourne international airport brought in by a man from Vietnam.
- A man tried to bring half a suckling pig in his airline luggage into Sydney.
Two live squirrels had to be put down after they were smuggled into Brisbane from Bali. Source: Supplied
- A full bird's nest destined for soup, pig trotters and gizzards, and a fungus-growing caterpillar were seized from Chinese tourists arriving in Cairns to celebrate Chinese New Year.
2009
- A tourist travelling from Dubai to Melbourne was allegedly caught with two live pigeons stuffed into his trousers, as well as two bird eggs in a vitamin containers.
- A man flying from the Middle East to Melbourne had live animals in his pant legs, and an eggplant stuffed into the front of his underpants.
2007
- A woman was busted trying to smuggle 51 live tropical fish concealed under her skirt when Melbourne Customs officers heard "flipping" noises coming from her waist.
2005
- Three small fish were found swimming in a cosmetic jar brought into Brisbane Airport by a 50-year-old woman.
2004
- Sydney Airport officials seized a taxidermy armadillo dressed as a cowboy which a man tried to bring from the US.
Undeclared live sea snails brought by a flying from Vietnam were seized at Sydney Airport last year. (AAP)
