Giant ants from Germany intercepted in China

Customs officials in southwestern China seized a batch of 400 live black ants being smuggled into the country by courier from Hamburg, Germany, a national news portal reports.

According to China News Services, each ant was between 1.5 to 2cm long and placed in a sealed test tube.

The courier was intercepted by customs officials at Chengdu airport in Sichuan province when the package went through an X-ray scanner.

When the parcel was opened, inspectors found more 400 ants still alive. It was the first time local Chengdu customs had intercepted an illegal shipment of live ants.

The parcel was sent from Hamburg via Dubai and Seoul before reaching Chengdu.