Jerusalem, 14 July, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli customs officials intercepted a shipment of dangerous and illegal fish species at Ben-Gurion Airport, preventing a potential ecological threat. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, a man in his 30s returning from Thailand was caught with 17 live ornamental fish hidden in his luggage. These included seven aggressive alligator gars — banned for their size, threat to humans, and ecological harm — and ten venomous freshwater stingrays (Trigon species), protected under international law.
The fish were seized and quarantined. Authorities warned that such smuggling endangers biodiversity and public health.