An animal trafficker caught with 20 pregnant dead seahorses hidden in his suitcase has been seized by customs officers in Germany.

Horrified inspectors discovered the creatures packed into a styrofoam container as they searched the suspect’s luggage at Berlin Brandenburg Airport on 17th May.

He told police he had bought the seahorses from a dealer in Vietnam for EUR 5 (GBP 4) and said he had planned to exhibit them.

Now, say customs official, he is facing a fine of up to EUR 50,000 (GBP 42,551) under animal protection regulations.

Main Customs Office Potsdam spokesperson, Christiane Ullrich said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “Seahorses are listed in Appendix B of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation. This is the second-highest protection category.”

She added: “The import and export of these species into and out of the EU are strictly regulated and generally require prior authorisation from a wildlife conservation authority of an EU member state.

“However, the traveler could not provide such authorisation.”

Ullrich continued: “Therefore, customs officials confiscated the animals and informed the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation.

“If penalised, the traveler faces a fine of up to EUR 50,000 [GBP 42,551].”

Customs officials in Germany seized more than 54,000 protected animals, plants, or goods derived from them last year.