australianborderforcegettyimages-1295194513.jpg Australian Border Force officers seized several of the parcels. Photo: Getty ImagesA wildlife trafficker will spend years in jail for stuffing turtles, lizards and snakes inside toys and speakers and trying to smuggle them out of Australia. The NSW District Court said the sentences reflected the gravity of their offences and the undue cruelty inflicted on the animals. Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the sentences followed a two-year investigation into criminal syndicates involved in native wildlife smuggling. "Native Australian reptiles are highly sought after overseas in what is a dangerously lucrative market supplying ventures such as overseas pet shops that exclusively sell Australian reptiles."

Source: Otago Daily Times February 21, 2021 02:03 UTC