Sharon Naismith, 45, was caught in June 2005 when custom officers at Melbourne airport smelled something fishy about her. The Australian woman was caught smuggling 51 live exotic Asian fish under her skirt and on Friday she was sentenced to nine months of community service.

According to officials at Australian Customs, officers became suspicious of Naismith after they heard some "flipping" noises coming from her clothes. A search found a multi-pocketed apron carrying 15 plastic bags filled with water and fish under her skirt, according to AP reports.

The rare fish were estimated to be worth thousands of dollars.

Australian Customs acting national manager of investigations Doug Nicoll said the sentence reflected the seriousness of wildlife smuggling, which he described as a "cruel practice."

"(Such) offenders ignore the health and well being of the animals," he said, according to AP reports, adding that such illegally imported animals "can also be potential carriers of disease and harm the Australian fish industry."