Illegal crab- and frog-processing base liquidated in Primorye

In Primorye, Russia's Far East, border guards closed down an illegal Chinese crab- and frog-processing base, the press service of the Pacific regional department of Russia's Federal Border Service reported on Wednesday. According to its account, it all began with the arrest of several Chinese people, who went poaching for crabs and frogs under cover of a document permitting "fishing for scientific purposes." The permit had been issued by one of Primorye's research institutes.

An investigation exposed an illegal base in an apartment building in Oleniy, a village in the town of Artyom, and its owners - four Chinese who had no documents permitting stay on the territory of Primorye. The gang's business was to fish for crabs and frogs, process them, and ship over to China.

The police have launched an investigation. The arrestees will shortly be expelled to their own country.