Thousands Of Invasive Crab Species Found In Local Shipment

The shipments were labeled clothing, but what was actually inside was nothing you would want to wear.

Photo courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

(Erlanger, Ky.) – Mitten crabs are not cuddly.

The crustaceans are also considered among the world’s worst invasive species.

Although the 16 incoming packages from China was labeled as clothing, an x-ray anomaly at a local consignment facility near the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport prompted U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents to take a closer look.

Thousands of the mitten crabs were discovered in the confiscated shipments. The packages were destined for residences in New York.

In Asia, mitten crabs are considered a seasonal delicacy; however, their disastrous impact on other global habitats has earned them a place on the Invasive Species Specialist Group’s list of “100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species.”  

“Our agriculture specialists and officers work closely with other federal agencies to protect our natural resources,” said CBP Supervisory Agriculture Specialist Barbara Hassan. “In this case, cooperative efforts with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) prevented the introduction of a highly invasive and destructive species into our ecosystem.”

CBP refused all the shipments per FWS regulations. Violations are currently being reviewed.