Something Fishy
Sharon Naismith, 45, was sentenced Friday to nine months of community service for smuggling fish into the country… under her skirt. Above is the frequently posted photo of the specially made apron that was seized by Australian authorities.
Australian, newspaper, the Herald Sun, reports that the woman was obsessed with tropical fish and was spotted slipping into a restroom upon a return flight from Singapore. She had transported the fish in her luggage but transferred them in the restroom into the apron prior to passing through customs.
Elissa Hunt, the newspaper’s court reporter wrote (that), “The County Court heard Naismith, who has no prior convictions, was fascinated by fish and almost every room in her house had an aquarium.”
According to Australian Customs, “Sharon Naismith, 45, was caught in June 2005 at the airport in the southern city of Melbourne after customs officers heard “flipping” noises coming from her clothes and conducted a search. In the apron they found 15 plastic bags filled with water and fish including one rare Asian Arowana that customs said was worth tens of thousands of dollars, and 14 catfish.
The Herald Sun, article noted that when nabbed by Customs, she claimed she had gone to Singapore for a holiday and decided to buy the fish when she saw the interesting species available. But the court was told emails had been found in which Naismith ordered particular types of unusual fish from a Singapore breeder before her trip, telling him: “I can only carry 15 small bags through Customs.” There were also emails between Naismith and other fish lovers relating to deals to sell rare species for hundreds of dollars each.
Naismith was found with 51 fish concealed in her apron, with all but one banned entirely from Australia because of risks of parasites and the potential dangers to native varieties.
One fish, an endangered Asian arowana, can be imported only with a permit — which Naismith did not have.