Reptile smuggling syndicate busted in record Victorian investigation
A major syndicate has been busted trying to smuggle reptiles overseas by allegedly stuffing them into Milo and Pringles containers, kids toys and deep-fryers. Here’s how the syndicate almost pulled it off.
VIC News
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Reptiles have allegedly been stuffed into Milo and Pringles containers, kids toys and deep-fryers as a syndicate attempted to smuggle them overseas.
Authorities raided properties in Clayton, Oakleigh and Narre Warren this morning where a dozen animals were uncovered, half of which were dead.
Two cars and $300,000-$400,000 in cash were also seized.
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It followed a series of warrants executed last month.
More than 150 lizards, including monitor lizards, blue-tongue lizards and rare geckos, have been seized since the syndicate was first detected by Australia Post and the Australian Border Force in June last year.
The 10-month investigation was the largest ever undertaken in Victoria.
Two arrests were made last month, with one person now facing 121 cruelty and eight wildlife-related charges.
Australian Border Force superintendent Nicholas Walker said authorities had a “common commitment” to stop the illegal importation and exportation of wildlife.
“Wildlife smuggling can be lucrative and there is no doubt criminal groups are more brazen and have no regard for animal suffering,” he said.
“There are also people out there who are prepared to pay large sums of money for exotic and rare animals.”
Blue-tongue lizards can be illegally sold for more than $2840 — or US$2000 — overseas.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning investigations manager Iain Bruce said
the raids touched just the tip of the iceberg in the illegal wildlife trade, with the animals bound for the pet trade in Hong Kong and China.
He said the alleged smugglers attempted to conceal the reptiles by stuffing them in socks, covering them in masking tape or wrapping them in aluminium foil and plasticine to avoid X-ray detection.
Some were also jammed in toys, chip containers, powdered chocolate tins, deep-fryers and rice cookers.
Despite this, authorities allegedly made 37 separate “detections” of live animals.
Authorities were able to pinpoint exactly where the lizards were illegal captured based on their subspecies and colour.
It follows a Crime Stoppers and DELWP campaign in 2015 to crack down on illegal wildlife trafficking.
Crime Stoppers Victoria acting chief executive Caroline Reid said the Trafficked, Traded and Traumatised campaign sparked a “significant” rise in criminal reports.
“This campaign not only aimed to keep illegal wildlife out of Victoria, it helped authorities in bringing those responsible to justice,” she said.
“This crime is not only a huge risk to the environment, it is also incredibly cruel.
“Wildlife are subjected to extreme heat and cold, physical and emotional trauma, suffocation and overcrowding — many trafficked animals do not survive.”
This shingleback lizard is one of more than 150 reptiles seized as part of major Melbourne smuggling syndicate bust. More @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/9FcAGpUpjR
— Monique Hore (@moniquehore) March 7, 2019
Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said it was a “very disturbing case”.
“Our government will not tolerate commodification of our wildlife when we know that it needs to stay in its natural environment and it needs all the protections that it can get.
“This is the largest such operation ever undertaken in Victoria and we are absolutely proud that we have made some significant progress here.”
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