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Australian Customs seized 340,000 potential pest, disease-ridden items entering the country

A giant African snail and illegal reptile imports are some of the biosecurity risks.

A giant African snail and illegal reptile imports are some of the biosecurity risks. Photo: Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources

GRAPHIC WARNING: This story includes photos of a goat foetus and skinned frogs.

You’d be amazed what some people try to bring into the country.

A barbecued rat, goat foetuses, duck tongues and lizard’s feet were among 340,000 items confiscated at the border last year, according to the latest data from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.

Nearly a third of the items were seized at Sydney Airport.

They included 20,000 kilograms of meat, about 7000kg of seafood, 3000kg of seeds and 2000kg of bananas.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud said biosecurity officers shouldered a big responsibility.

“Any one of the items could cause devastation to the agriculture industry, the environment or humans, through disease,” he said.

“Agriculture, fisheries and forestry employ more than 300,000 Australians, put $63 billion into the economy and supply 93 per cent of domestic food, according to the National Farmers’ Federation,” he said.

The biosecurity team at Sydney Airport confiscated a goat foetus

The biosecurity team at Sydney Airport confiscated a goat foetus. Photo: Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources

Among the other unusual items intercepted at Sydney Airport, were cooked eggs, chickens’ feet and skinned frogs.

Mr Littleproud thanked the biosecurity team at Sydney Airport for working to keep Australia safe from bio threats.

The government offers advice on what can and cannot be brought into the country at agriculture.gov.au/travelling.

Skinned frogs intercepted from entering the country

Among the hazardous items were skinned frogs (pictured), duck tongues, chicken feet, cooked eggs, barbecued rat and lizard’s feet. Photo: Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources

-ABC

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