Lizards worth $550,000 were goanna be smuggled to China before raids
Dozens of native lizards worth more than half a million dollars have been seized and three houses in suburban Melbourne raided in the biggest wildlife protection enforcement operation ever undertaken in Victoria.
Officers raided three properties in Narre Warren, Oakleigh and Clayton on Thursday and rescued the reptiles, which were to be sold as pets on the black market in Hong Kong and China.
In all, more than 150 lizards were seized from the smugglers, including scores at two other raids in Werribee and Melbourne in the past month.
Some of the lizards had been wrapped in masking tape, aluminium foil or plasticine and stuffed inside items including Pringles boxes, Milo tins, jigsaw puzzle boxes and rice cookers.
Six had died and others were in a distressed state.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning investigator Iain Bruce said those in the smuggling ring had no concern for the lizards’ suffering.
“When an animal has been stuffed into a sock and its airway restricted for that long period of time it’s extremely traumatic to the animals, it’s just dreadful,” Mr Bruce said.
“And for the officers that are lovers of wildlife, to ... have to unpack that and see the animals covered in their own excrement, not being able to breathe, some being dead and others needing veterinary assistance immediately, taking gasps of breath as they remove the tape, it’s just disgusting.”
No arrests were made in the raids but two people will be charged on summons. Two cars and as much as $400,000 cash were also seized.
Mr Bruce said the large bundles of cash seized demonstrated how lucrative the black market trade in Australian lizards was. The 150 or so lizards have a street value of about $550,000 in Asia.
Reptiles seized include various species of blue-tongue lizard, monitor, gecko, water dragon and shingleback lizards.
The Australian Border Force, Australia Post and Hong Kong customs were also involved in the operation.
Victorian Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio said it was the biggest operation of its kind undertaken in Victoria.
"The cruel, inhumane and illegal activities are stopping as a result of these search warrants," Ms D'Ambrosio said.
The maximum penalty for taking or being in possession of protected wildlife is a $38,685 fine or two years' jail.
The maximum penalty for cruelty to animals is $40,297.50 or 12 months' jail.