A Vietnamese national has admitted smuggling an endangered fish into Australia that he intended to keep as a pet.
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Van Ho Le, 34, appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to importing the endangered red Asian arowana in a bag hanging around his neck.
He also admitted making a false statement and will be sentenced in September.
Le was stopped at Adelaide Airport in April as he disembarked a plane from Malaysia.
Also known as a dragonfish, Asian arowana can grow up to 90 centimetres long and have been rumoured to sell for up to $300,000 in China.
After a previous court appearance, he told reporters he did not intend to sell the fish and did not know it was an endangered species.
"I was going to keep it as a pet," he said.
Following Le's arrest, Australian Border Force SA chief Brett Liebich said the fish had to be humanely euthanised because illegal imports posed a biosecurity risk.
"The ABF takes the illegal wildlife trade seriously," he said.
In Australia, it is illegal to own an Asian arowana unless it is legally imported.
The maximum penalty for trade offences is 10 years in jail and a fine of up to $210,000 for individuals or up to $1,050,000 for corporations.
The court was told on Wednesday that commonwealth prosecutors had agreed to have Le's case dealt with as a summary offence, suggesting he is likely to face a lesser penalty.
Australian Associated Press
