PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian teenager was charged in Australia on Tuesday (May 7) with trying to smuggle exotic reptiles out of the country in February.
The 19-year-old suspect was slapped with one count of attempting to export a regulated native animal under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 at a Magistrate's Court in Western Australia.
According to the Australian Border Force (ABF), a probe was launched after an air cargo company in Perth found three lizards in a Malaysia-bound consignment declared as toys on Feb 29.
With the assistance of relevant agencies, the ABF raided a residence in the city of Subiaco in Perth on Monday (May 6), where the accused was arrested.
A search of the house led to the recovery of an undisclosed number of wildlife species including geckos, spiders and scorpions. Three unspecified digital devices were also seized.
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The ABF said it was believed that the lizards destined for Malaysia would be sold on the lucrative international exotic wildlife market.
ABF assistant commissioner Chris Waters said a public tip-off led to the raid and arrest.
"Without information from the community, ABF investigators may not have made an arrest so quickly.
"This is an outstanding result which... prevented even more Australian wildlife from being sent overseas for profit, a practice which is not only cruel but many of the animals smuggled this way sadly do not survive the journey.
"We want to thank the people who came forward with information which helped lead us to the man," he was quoted as saying.
Malaysia has been on the radar of international anti-wildlife smuggling agencies for being a transit point for the illegal trade in exotic animals.
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Several Malaysians have also been held for attempting to smuggle protected species including tortoises, spiders, snakes and scorpions to other countries.
Among them is notorious Malaysian wildlife trafficker Teo Boon Ching who was imprisoned for 18 months in the United States in September over the exploitation of wildlife.
The 59-year-old, who was reportedly a middleman in the trade, is said to have facilitated the movement of exotic animals and tonnes of animal parts including rhinoceros horns, elephant tusks and pangolin scales over the past two decades.
The animal parts had made their way to China and South-East Asian countries where they are highly sought for traditional health remedies.
