Traveller arrested for trying to smuggle 19 lizards out of Australia

ABF officers found 19 lizards in a Japanese woman's luggage at Melbourne Airport as she attempted to leave Australia.

A traveller has been arrested at Melbourne Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 19 lizards out of Australia.

Australian Border Force (ABF) confirmed in a statement it targeted a 27-year-old Japanese woman acting off information from its international presence in Hong Kong.

Upon x-raying and examining her suitcase, the officers found 17 Shingle Back lizards and two Blue Tongue lizards tightly packed inside two mesh packages, ABF revealed.

The lizards were referred to the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

ABF officers found 19 lizards in a Japanese woman's luggage at Melbourne Airport attempting to leave Australia.

ABF officers found 19 lizards in a Japanese woman’s luggage at Melbourne Airport attempting to leave Australia.

DELWP Chief Conservation Regulator Kate Gavens said many of the seized reptiles had ticks attached to them, indicating they may have been wild-caught animals.

“They will be checked by a Vet and donated to schools and other not-for-profit organisations if they can’t be returned to the wild after the finalisation of the legal processes,” Gavens said.

“DELWP is continuing to liaise with the ABF & Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecution about additional wildlife and cruelty charges related to the alleged offences.”

The woman was arrested and charged under section 303DD (1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and appeared before the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court last week.

This news comes after a 45-year-old Japanese national was arrested at Perth Airport on 8 November, and a 46-year-old Japanese national was arrested at Sydney Airport on 5 February. Both had native Australian reptiles in their luggage.

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