'Hundreds of reptiles found' in smuggling bust
Several people face smuggling charges after State authorities allegedly found hundreds of native animals hidden in luggage and packages in a bid to get them out of WA.
An investigation by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Department of Parks and Wildlife stopped more than 150 reptiles and amphibians from being illegally exported.
Four men were arrested and charged.
Two men from Russia and two from the Czech Republic were arrested by Customs officers at Perth International Airport on February 6 after reptiles were allegedly discovered hidden in hollowed out books and cigarette packets in packages posted from Carnarvon, Tom Price, Geraldton and Perth to European destinations.
Two of the men also allegedly had reptiles hidden in their luggage at the airport.
Parks and Wildlife officers assisted with the operation and identified 157 reptiles and amphibians including skinks, geckos, frogs, pygmy pythons, a dead death adder, several invertebrates and 33 dead reptiles which appear to have been tagged for use as specimens.
Customs manage Vesna Watt warned of the significant penalties for those attempting to export wildlife.
“These arrests should serve as a warning to those looking to illegally exploit Australia’s natural fauna,” Ms Watt said.
“Customs and Border Protection takes these matters seriously and those caught could face up to 10 years in prison.”
In a separate Parks and Wildlife operation on February 5, 92 reptiles were found at Broome, Derby and NSW post offices and in a vehicle intercepted in Broome by police.
A WA man and two NSW people including a minor could face more than 90 charges.
Senior wildlife officer Rick Dawson said the two incidents represented a major breakthrough in the detection of reptile trafficking.
“Together, more than 240 native species have been prevented from leaving the State in the space of a week,” Mr Dawson said.
“Posting animals in packages and secreting them in luggage is not only illegal but cruel and inhumane - more than 20 of the reptiles were either dead by the time these parcels were intercepted, or have since died.
Mr Dawson said among the animals seized from the operations were several species of reptiles listed as Specially Protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
