Manchester Airport live coral seizure

Officials at Manchester Airport have been involved in a bizarre case of live coral being brought into Britain.

Staff from the UK Border Agency discovered and seized the coral after discovering it in a freight shipment bound from Australia. The coral was part of a larger consignment of aquatic specimens which had been legitimately shipped. Coral is protected under international law as a live species.

Two pieces of the living polyp animals were discovered by authorities during a routine search of the air freight which arrived in the UK on October 14th. Under legislation regarding the species it was deemed that the necessary export and import documentation required by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES was not being held.

Upon making the discovery UKBA officers confiscated the coral and rushed it to a special aquarium for its preservation.

Subsequent inquiries by the UKBA confirmed that the two specimens had been exported in error and that it was satisfied that there was no intent on behalf of the shipping company to break the law, meaning no further action will be taken with regards to any form of prosecution.

A spokesperson for the UKBA from the Manchester Airport advised that any illicit trade of endangered animals is a serious factor in their extinction and that the UKBA takes its role of protecting the environment very seriously.

The UKBA has urged holiday makers to be careful with what souvenirs they purchase when travelling abroad and warned any persons attempting to import protected creatures or plants would require correct documentation or face possible penalties.