Wildlife officers have busted an illegal cockroach-breeding operation in rural Australia, seizing a skin-crawling haul worth $100,000 on the black market for exotic bugs.

The invertebrates were likely destined for the pet trade, including as reptile food

Australian officials say they confiscated more than 100,000 illegal live cockroaches from a breeder in May in the country's largest-ever seizure of exotic invertebrates.

Australian authorities have seized more than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches from a commercial breeder in Bathurst, New South Wales.

Wildlife officers have busted an illegal cockroach-breeding operation in rural Australia, seizing a skin-crawling haul worth more than $100,000 on the black market for exotic bugs.

Both Madagascar hissing and dubia cockroaches are illegal to import into Australia

Australian authorities have seized more than 100,000 illegal exotic cockroaches worth an estimated $143,000. | Trending

SYDNEY, June 5 — Wildlife officers have busted an illegal cockroach-breeding operation in rural Australia, seizing a skin-crawling haul worth more than US$100,000 on the black...

The seizure included dubia cockroaches and Madagascar hissing cockroaches, both of which cannot be legally imported into Australia or kept, bred, or sold.

Wildlife officers have busted an illegal cockroach-breeding operation in rural Australia, seizing a skin-crawling haul worth $100,000 on the black market for exotic bugs.

Strenge Biosicherheit statt Krabbel-Invasion: In Australien werden mehr als 100.000 illegal gehaltene Kakerlaken sichergestellt. Warum werden die Insekten überhaupt in Massen…

The haul of live insects included dubia cockroaches and Madagascar hissing cockroaches. Authorities said it was the country's biggest-ever seizure of illegal exotic invertebrates.

Australia has strict biosecurity controls at its borders to protect its agriculture and horticulture sectors and native wildlife from pest infestations. Those smuggling in…

The haul of live insects dubia and Madagascar hissing cockroaches was Australia's biggest-ever seizure of illegal exotic invertebrates.