Four people in NSW have been charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle hundreds of native lizards and reptiles to Hong Kong in a crime dubbed “cold-blooded and cruel”.
NWS Police’s Raptor Squad, which is known for targetting underworld figures, established Strike Force Whyaratta in September to investigate illegal native animal and reptile exports after nine packages containing 59 lizards were intercepted en route to Hong Kong.
During raids across Sydney this week police located and seized 257 lizards – worth a total value of approximately $1.2 million.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis said the smuggling attempt was “cold-blooded and cruel”, with the lizards kept in poor conditions and bound in tiny containers to be sent overseas.
The sting began on Wednesday, December 20 after strike force officers executed a search warrant at an address in Pendle Hill.
A 41-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Granville Police Station, where she was charged with six counts of exporting a regulated native specimen without a permit.
On December 28, a 54-year-old man was arrested at another Pendle Hill address.
He was taken to Granville Police Station, where he was charged with four counts of exporting regulated native specimens without a permit, dealing with proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group.
During subsequent search warrants in Pendle Hill, police located 16 native lizards and eggs in a box addressed to Hong Kong.
A further 60 native lizards were located in a storage room.
On December 29, strike force officers stopped a vehicle in Panania and arrested the driver – a 59-year-old man.
He was taken to Bankstown Police Station, where he was charged with 13 offences, including directing activities of a criminal group, export regulated native specimens without a permit, and dealing with proceeds of crime.
Another 118 lizards, three snakes, eight eggs and 25 dead lizards were found during search warrants in East Hill, while an additional four lizards hidden in bags were discovered in Grenfell.
A 31-year-old man was arrested and charged with dealing in or attempting to deal in protected animals, dealing with proceeds of crime, and participating in a criminal group.
Police will allege in court the criminal group were catching live lizards and native Australian reptiles to export for profit to Hong Kong.
Superintendent Koutsoufis said police will allege in court the 59-year-old man was running the criminal group exporting the lizards while the 31-year-old man was responsible for catching the lizards and the other two arrestees were responsible for transporting and exporting the lizards.
Koutsoufis alleged the 31-year-old went out to remote Australia like the Northern Territory and Western Australia regularly to catch and bring back lizards for export.
He said the lizards were found in containers in chip packets, handbags and cereal containers on their way overseas.
Police will also allege the 59-year-old has been before the courts for similar offences in the past.
The reptiles seized during the investigation were taken to various zoos and wildlife parks for examination by a vet before being released back into the wild.
(9 NEWS)
