Two South Koreans were arrested at Croatia's main airport as they tried to smuggle 252,000 live baby eels, an endangered species, out of the country, police said Thursday.

The two men, aged 38 and 57, were arrested on Wednesday after customs officials at Zagreb airport discovered the eels in their luggage, a police statement said.

The two could be charged with "destroying protected natural values".

The eels have been handed over to Zagreb zoo.

 

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