On 20 February 2017, a Czech National was boarding a flight from Perth to Abu Dhabi when he was selected by the Australian Border Force (ABF) officers for a routine baggage examination. ABF officers examined the bags and found a total of 4226 insects, 27 spiders, and seven scorpions, which were seized and forwarded to the Western Australian Museum for assessment. The insects were housed in a series of plastic boxes, ziplock bags and 250-500ml plastic bottles. Most specimens were packed in wood shavings infused with ethyl acetate (to kill the specimen and prevent decay), with the exception of a small sample of moths and butterflies, which were housed in wax paper envelopes in a plastic box. All insects were identified by entomologists as Australian species including 19 beetles of the Buprestidae family, which are listed as specially protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act of Western Australia.

An investigation into the man's background revealed his keen interest in insects and indications were that he had collected and exported insects from various countries across the globe. The man was arrested, fined $2000 for attemping to smuggle thousands of insects on a flight out of Australia and charged with offences under the Environment Protection and Bio-diversity Conservation Act 1999.

Native Australian insects such as those found are highly sought after overseas. They can be sold to museums and collectors for a tidy sum. The ABF has an important role in protecting Australia's native wildlife from falling prey to unscrupulous smugglers.

Posting animals in packages and concealing them in luggage is not only illegal but cruel and inhumane. Many animals smuggled in this way do not survive.