Bird eggs smuggler arrested at Sydney Airport - Thursday, 8th November 2007
Customs Investigators in Sydney have arrested and charged a man with attempting to illegally import 10 bird eggs using a specialised body vest.
The eggs were allegedly located when Customs officers stopped and questioned a 45-year-old Netherlands national when he arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from Hong Kong overnight.
During questioning, Customs officers became suspicious the man may have been concealing something on his body.
The 10 eggs were allegedly concealed within a purpose-built singlet vest. The eggs are yet to be identified.
Customs Investigators arrested the man and charged him with importing CITES species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
He was due to appear in Sydney Central Local Court this morning.
Customs National Manager Investigations, Richard Janeczko, said that Australia had some of the strongest wildlife protection laws in the world.
"The import and export of wildlife is strictly controlled and policed by Customs at the border," Mr Janeczko said.
"Wildlife smuggling can also pose a risk to the environment and the health of all Australians."
The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years imprisonment and/or a $110,000 fine.
