herptrader
Very Well-Known Member
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=6305
A man convicted of attempting to smuggle 23 Australian native birds eggs out of Australia has been given a two-year prison sentence by a Sydney court today.
The 51-year-old man, Mr Keith Lionel Miller, of Lurnea, was found guilty in the District Court of attempting to export regulated native specimens in contravention of Section 303DD(1) of the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999.
A non-parole period of 14 months was imposed.
Mr Miller pleaded guilty to concealing the 23 eggs underneath his clothing as he was preparing to depart Australia for Zurich through Sydney International Airport on 12 November 2004 .
The eggs contained specimens such as Major Mitchell cockatoos, Gang Gang cockatoos, Red Collared lorikeets and Rainbow lorikeet mutations.
Customs officers detained Mr Miller at the airport for a frisk search and discovered the eggs hidden in his underwear.
Customs Regional Director New South Wales, David Collins, said the detection had been the result of excellent cooperation by Australian Customs and the Department of the Environment and Heritage.
"Customs, as a national border protection agency, treats the smuggling of flora and fauna very seriously and will continue to work with National and State wildlife agencies to protect Australia 's unique wildlife", Mr Collins said.
Mr Collins said Australians could help Customs to stop illegal wildlife traders by reporting suspicious activity, such as poachers' equipment and unusual activity in bushland to the Customs Hotline on 1800 06 1800.
The maximum penalty for wildlife smuggling under the Act is imprisonment for 10 years and/or a $110,000 fine.
A man convicted of attempting to smuggle 23 Australian native birds eggs out of Australia has been given a two-year prison sentence by a Sydney court today.
The 51-year-old man, Mr Keith Lionel Miller, of Lurnea, was found guilty in the District Court of attempting to export regulated native specimens in contravention of Section 303DD(1) of the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999.
A non-parole period of 14 months was imposed.
Mr Miller pleaded guilty to concealing the 23 eggs underneath his clothing as he was preparing to depart Australia for Zurich through Sydney International Airport on 12 November 2004 .
The eggs contained specimens such as Major Mitchell cockatoos, Gang Gang cockatoos, Red Collared lorikeets and Rainbow lorikeet mutations.
Customs officers detained Mr Miller at the airport for a frisk search and discovered the eggs hidden in his underwear.
Customs Regional Director New South Wales, David Collins, said the detection had been the result of excellent cooperation by Australian Customs and the Department of the Environment and Heritage.
"Customs, as a national border protection agency, treats the smuggling of flora and fauna very seriously and will continue to work with National and State wildlife agencies to protect Australia 's unique wildlife", Mr Collins said.
Mr Collins said Australians could help Customs to stop illegal wildlife traders by reporting suspicious activity, such as poachers' equipment and unusual activity in bushland to the Customs Hotline on 1800 06 1800.
The maximum penalty for wildlife smuggling under the Act is imprisonment for 10 years and/or a $110,000 fine.
