A pet shop owner was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department for attempting to smuggle parakeets and other items from Thailand, which are restricted from being imported into the country.
The suspect arrested is Masayuki Sekiguchi (69), who runs a bird store called ``Pet Shop Island'' in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, in August last year, a man was suspected of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention Act by attempting to smuggle seven parrots and other birds that cannot be imported without notification to the country, as well as mangosteen, a fruit that is prohibited from being imported, from Thailand. It is.
Of the seven birds, six of them, including the ``Blue-bellied Parakeet'' and the ``Blue-bellied Parakeet,'' were considered endangered species and their international trade is regulated under the Washington Convention.
The parrots were hidden in cardboard boxes stuffed with newspapers, some of which were carried onto the plane as hand luggage, but customs officials found them at the inspection area at Haneda Airport, and the Metropolitan Police Department investigated the incident after receiving a report.
In response to the investigation, he reportedly admitted to the charges, saying, ``I wanted to raise and breed the animals myself.''
Bringing birds into Japan may cause the spread of avian influenza and West Nile fever, which can be transmitted to humans through mosquitoes, so the Metropolitan Police Department must notify the national government and conduct necessary inspections before bringing birds into the country. I'm calling out that I want it.