Reptile smuggling hits new highs as organised crime groups fill breach

ORGANISED crime groups are sending out shopping list requests for Australian wildlife to be smuggled to buyers overseas in an alarming escalation in the racket.

EXCLUSIVE

ORGANISED crime groups have moved into lizard smuggling using social media to post shopping list ordered thefts which authorities say has led to an explosion of lizard seizures in the post on route to China and Russia.

In some instances the racket is replacing riskier tobacco and drugs trafficking enterprises

and students are coerced to steal the native lizards ranging from geckos and goannas to more exotic varieties of shinglebacks, eastern spiny tailed and gidgee skink lizards.

In the last three months alone, the ABF has stopped 20 separate consignments containing more than 110 reptiles from being illegally exported overseas through the postal service.

This is on top of what state authorities are seizing which in Western Australia earlier this year in one month alone saw 269 reptiles seized during a smuggling operation.

ABF detects native lizards being illegally exported. Picture: ABF

News Corp Australia has learnt according to an ABF intelligence report the smuggling is increasingly being co-ordinated by sophisticated networks of people including students on behalf of organised crime groups in China and Russia where huge profits are being made from the lizards on-sale.

The more than 110 seized reptiles were found at international mail centres posted from Melbourne and Sydney to addresses in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Russia. The end buyers were suspected as being private zoos and collectors.

“Some reptiles were found stuffed in socks within cereal and chip boxes, others had their legs taped together … The detections have been referred to relevant state and federal agencies for further investigation,” the report read.

ABF detects native lizards being illegally exported. Picture: ABF

They were packed in boxes labelled as toys, kids and baby clothing and shoes, school bags and bags of chips. Social media has been cited as fuelling the trade with known smugglers creating Facebook and Instagram sites to post lists of what was required and how much they were willing to pay.

ABF detects native lizards being illegally exported. Picture: ABF

Intelligence has pointed to the end users paying “thousands of dollars” for each lizard with students and others equally well paid including expenses such as car hire to drive them between states for posting. It was noted like anything, crime groups identify the market where money can be made and then source products temporarily replacing other enterprises such as tobacco or drugs smuggling.

ABF detects native lizards being illegally exported. Picture: ABF

“Wildlife smuggling is a lucrative trade and we know individuals and criminal syndicates can make significant profits by exporting and selling Australia’s unique native fauna overseas, particularly in Asia,” ABF Acting assistant commissioner Craig Palmer told News Corp Australia.

“The ABF is committed to protecting Australian wildlife and works closely with state and federal agencies to detect, disrupt and investigate those involved in this cruel trade.

“We are working with our colleagues at Australia Post, industry, consumer groups, as well as federal and state environment agencies, to increase our ability to identify who is involved and where they are sending these animals.”

It is understood the ABF liaison officers are working with counterparts overseas to combat the trade.

The maximum penalty for wildlife trade offences under Australian law is 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $210,000 for individuals or up to $1,050,000 for corporations.

Originally published as Reptile smuggling hits new highs as organised crime groups fill breach