Two Korean tourists were caught trying to smuggle Iboimori, a natural monument and endangered creature that mainly lives in Okinawa, Japan, into Korea.
On the 21st local time, local media such as Okinawa TV and Okinawa Times reported that two Korean tourists who were trying to take out six 'Iboymori' from Okinawa International Airport were arrested for violating the Customs Act.
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The 'Iboimori' is a creature of the salamander family that is both amphibian and reptilian.
The iboimori, which mainly inhabits the northern islands of Japan, is designated as an endangered wild animal and plant in Japan, and capture, transfer, and export are prohibited in principle.
According to local media, on the 10th, international customs officers at Naha Airport found six live Iboimori in the bags of two Korean tourists and immediately arrested them.
The tourist denied the charges, saying, "I caught it in northern Japan. But I didn't know that export was prohibited," and the police authorities said they would investigate the case in detail in accordance with the Species Preservation Act.
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According to a police investigation, the two spent several days in northern Japan capturing the iboimori, and one of them is known to be running an animal-related business in South Korea.
"Iboimori," which is particularly popular in Europe and the United States, has recently become a target for poaching, and is paying attention in Japan as well.
In response, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Japan Shelter said, "We highly appreciate that we were able to prevent this export."
Meanwhile, Naha Airport Customs said that this is the first time that illegal export of iboymori has been detected.
(Photo = Youtube 'OTV沖縄TV')