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Australia seizes 100,000 illegal cockroaches in record bug bust

DW English · Jun 5, 2026, 8:30 AM · Also reported by 4 other sources

Key takeaways

  • The haul of live insects included dubia cockroaches and Madagascar hissing cockroaches.
  • Officials said the haul — worth an estimated $142,000 (€122,000) on the black market — included Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia cockroaches.
  • The raid took place in May in the rural town of Bathurst, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Sydney.

Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.

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.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Et Jy The Madagascar hissing cockroach is one of the largest species of cockroach in the world Image: Australian Department of Climate Change/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance Advertisement Wildlife officers in Australia have confiscated more than 100,000 illegal cockroaches in a raid on a commercial breeder in the state of New South Wales.

Officials said the haul — worth an estimated $142,000 (€122,000) on the black market — included Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia cockroaches. It is illegal to import, keep, breed, or sell both species under Australian law.

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