Australian authorities seize more than 100,000 illegal Madagascar cockroaches

Australian environmental authorities seized more than 100,000 illegally kept cockroaches during a raid at an insect breeding facility in New South Wales, DW reports.

The insects confiscated included Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia cockroaches, authorities said. Under Australian law, the importation, keeping, breeding and sale of both species is prohibited.

The raid took place in May in Bathurst, about 200 kilometers west of Sydney. Officials say it is the largest seizure of illegally imported exotic invertebrates in Australian history.

The cost of the shipment on the black market is estimated at approximately 142 thousand US dollars.

The Madagascar hissing cockroach is considered one of the largest species of cockroaches in the world and can reach 5–7.5 centimeters in length, which is significantly larger than the common Australian cockroaches, which grow to about 3.6 centimeters.

Investigators determined that the exotic cockroaches were being bred and sold as pet reptile food. Authorities have urged lizard owners to use approved food insects such as crickets and tree cockroaches.

The Department of the Environment stressed that Australia has some of the world’s strictest biosecurity regulations to protect its unique fauna and agriculture from invasive species and disease. For attempts to illegally import animals, insects or plants, violators face large fines.

Confiscated insects will be destroyed.