Customs Agents Seize Hermit Crabs At McAllen Port Of Entry

McALLEN, Texas (AP) – U.S. Customs agents at a South Texas international bridge have seized 191 units of an unusual sort of contraband – hermit crabs.

Agents ever on the lookout for drugs, guns and money caught a 49-year-old Mexican citizen from McKinney who was returning to the United States at the Hidalgo crossing. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said today that its officers found a box full of live hermit crabs inside his vehicle and another bag of the crabs in the trunk.

The 191 crabs taken in the November 30th bust were given to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the man was issued a $1,910 fine for not declaring the crabs.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)