A Vietnamese traveller who tried to smuggle live tropical fish into the country in his trouser pockets has been fined $2000.
In the Manukau District Court on Monday morning, Tuan Nguyen admitted breaching the Biosecurity Act. He was caught last week at Auckland airport on arrival from Australia when Customs officers saw water dripping down his legs and asked him to empty his pockets.
They contained two plastic bags with water and seven live fish in them.
Nguyen said he was bringing the fish into the country for a friend.
He has been ordered to pay the fine before returning to Australia on Tuesday.
