Snake wranglers cop five figure fines for plotting to poach 77 reptiles

Two snake wranglers who used their ‘specialist knowledge’ in a ‘sophisticated’ plot to poach 77 reptiles from the NT and smuggle them back to Queensland have each copped five figure fines.

TWO snake wranglers who used their “specialist knowledge” in a “sophisticated” plot to poach 77 reptiles from the NT and smuggle them back to Queensland have copped more than $30,000 in fines.

Lucas Cheyne, 40, and Nathan Chetcuti, 24, each pleaded guilty to taking protected wildlife and faced a sentencing hearing in the Darwin Local Court on Monday.

In handing each man a five figure fine, judge Thomasin Opie said the offending was “serious” and “sophisticated”, with maximum penalties stretching to more than $150,000.

“You have specialist knowledge of the reptiles that you took and you relied upon that knowledge in order to poach them,” she said.

In ordering the men to pay more than $3800 each in restitution, Ms Opie said the figure would only cover the cost of feeding the animals and vet bills after 32 of them had to be put down.

“The offences were difficult to police and significant amounts of work was required by parks (staff) and vets to undo the harm that you may have caused in poaching these animals,” she said.

Snake wrangler Nathan Chetcuti. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

“It was evidently a time consuming and complex investigation that required organisation between the various agencies.

“Once the animals were seized by authorities, further work was required from vets, scientists and police as well as parks staff at a considerable cost.”

Ms Opie said she accepted the pair took the animals for use in Mr Cheyne’s Gold Coast Reptile Kingdom business, which had been negatively affected by Covid, but noted “poaching can, and has, led to extinction”.

“You are proud of the work that you do educating the public about wildlife and conservation and I’m told you have a genuine love of reptiles,” she said.

“I’m told that you did not intend to steal the animals that you poached for a profit but rather you wanted to keep them as part of your own collection to study.

“You had with you your employee, Mr Chetcuti, and really, as the senior person in your business, you should have been acting as a positive role model.”

Lucas Cheyne.

In convicting Cheyne on all counts, Ms Opie fined him $22,000 plus seven $150 victims’ levies.

In handing Chetcuti a $10,000 fine and three convictions, Ms Opie noted he had a prior conviction for similar offending but had also made full admissions to police when caught.