Australian authorities seized more than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches from a commercial breeder in Bathurst, New South Wales, in what officials described as the country’s largest-ever bust of illegal exotic invertebrates.

• Species involved: Mainly Madagascar hissing cockroaches (some as big as the palm of a hand) and dubia cockroaches.
• Value: Around 200,000 Australian dollars (~US$142,000 or £106,000) — these are often bred/sold as food for pet reptiles or in the exotic pet trade.
• When: The seizure happened in May 2026.
• Why illegal? These species are not permitted in Australia due to biosecurity and environmental risks (potential to harm native wildlife, agriculture, or spread disease if they escape or are released).

The operation was carried out by Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. No arrests were prominently mentioned in initial reports, but the focus was on the scale of the illegal breeding operation.

It’s a classic example of Australia’s strict biosecurity rules — the country is very protective of its unique ecosystem and takes illegal imports/breeding of exotic species seriously. Stories like this often go viral because… well, 100,000+ cockroaches is a lot to picture.