What the judge and you people are probably not aware is that these fish are being bred on CITES licensed captive breeding farms and sold legally in over 25 countries..and have been since the 80s. yet the USA wildlife act does not allow for supposedly any import/trade of "endangered species" despite USA being a signatory to CITES and being aware that captive breeding and regulated trade helps the conservation efforts. hence USA law is seen by almost everyone in the industry as old and restrictive and produces the smuggling problems because america can then be seen sometimes as a target market for poached specimens BECAUSE it has no legitimate trade of the captive bred fish allowed. CITES says breeding is for conservation, yet the USA points at its 1970 law and jails a man that has a cultural belief that this fish is lucky. Does it not sound just like going back to alcohol prohibition to you? Do not be fooled. Full prohibition does not work, it creates the black markets and even makes it a crime for importing a captive bred fish!! When the US law was made no one had bred the fish yet. The USA has failed to alter the old law to come into line with what CITES has been achieving through its regulated trade and balanced use motto. Some 30,000 plus fish per year are produced and marketed. So i actually agree the law is bull and it is time is it changed to suit this decade. I believe there have been talks between US wildlife and CITES arowana parties and the US wanted money to go toward conservation before they agree to lift their ban on responsibility, fair enough right? yet the money was going to go towards protecting wild fish of a species variety that is not even endangered!!! i have a feeling that Mr Chaw did not even think to explain why he said the law was bull and i am fairly sure his defense had no idea either. There was a time when the USA would even seize the fish and then kill them!

I fear that China's literal and needless appetite for all things rare and exotic, coupled with it's increasingly disposable income, will be the death of many endangered species.

What do you mean? Powdered Rhino horns, diced mummy wrappings, moose mucous. Is that what you are talking about? Isn't there something with the fuzz scrapings of antlers also?

Don't forget cobra venom soup for erectile dysfunction and tiger's testicles for male offspring.

How could I have forgotten since I consumed both before my two sons were born. Oh foolish me to forget so soon.

There was also an article about the leading party members in China having a very low rate of prostate problems. Couldn't be because they were boffing the young Chinese maidens could it?

The ultimate is Panda jaw but you need an invite to Highgrove from Prince Charles to enjoy it.

Ignorant people. I hope he receives the maximum. The cave woman from Staten Island received only probation for smuggling gorilla meat. Horrible ignorant people.

If these fish bring so much luck, why are they endangered? They don't seem very lucky to me!

wow, that fish is beautiful. no wonder they're so expensive.

Arowanas can easily be found in pet stores. Why the effort?

Those are South American arowanas, though, not the Asian species.

how big are they? need a quarter for size.

That must have smelled ripe after they opened the suitcase. I bet the remaining fish could have gone for a good shrimp dinner after starving for so long.

"ironically, several of the endangered fish he smuggled into the U.S. have died in police custody."

I demand an investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths! Where's Al Sharpton?