Life Imitates Art with ‘Snakes on a Plane’ in Australia

Customs in Sydney executed search and seizure warrants this week as part of an investigation into an attempt to smuggle five snakes and two spiders into Australia. This is the second major animal smuggling case investigated by Customs within a week with three men arrested and charged for attempting to smuggle lizards out of Western Australia last week.

The latest alleged smuggling attempt was discovered when Customs officers x-rayed a package, sent by air from the United States, at a freight forwarder’s depot at Mascot on Friday 19 September. The contents of the package had been declared as baby toys and t-shirts but the x-ray indicated the presence of other items.

The snakes were found to have been wrapped within white calico bags and the spiders were each packed in clear plastic pin containers. The snakes were later identified as being two green tree pythons, two royal pythons and one reticulated python while the spiders were identified as South American tarantulas. Because the snakes and spiders posed a potential quarantine risk, they were euthanized.

Customs investigators, accompanied by NSW Police, executed Customs search and seizure warrants yesterday at a Cambridge Gardens house in Sydney’s west.

Customs National Manager Investigations Richard Janeczko said, “Customs investigators seized evidence at the address and charges are expected to be laid in the near future.”

“Australia has strict laws governing the import of live animals. Wildlife smuggling is a cruel trade carried out with little or no thought for the welfare of the animals. Also Australia’s unique environment can be easily put at risk by such attempts,” he said.

Under the terms of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 it is illegal to importation regulated live specimens without permits. The maximum penalty for offenses under this act is 10 years’ imprisonment or a fine of $110,000 or both.

Source: Australian Customs Service

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