In just a month, the UK’s Border Force seized more than 250 species and endangered wildlife products at airports, ports and mail depots
Tarantulas, live snakes and lovebirds have been discovered crammed into vehicles by smuggling gangs.
In just a month, the UK’s Border Force seized more than 250 species and endangered wildlife products at airports, ports and mail depots. The Home Office said these included 2,000 live tarantulas – worth an estimated £70,000.
And officers also found two rainbow boa constrictors found under blankets in a car in Dover during the operation in September and October. Over 100 birds – including scarlet ibis, green-cheeked conures and lovebirds – were found packed into a car. Some had died and the rest were in a filthy condition.
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The number of cases has surged by 73% in two years. Home Office Minister Mike Tapp said: “Wildlife smuggling is serious organised crime. It fuels corruption, drives species to extinction, and undermines our border security.
“I congratulate Border Force on this year’s hugely successful operation, which has cut off a major source of funding for dangerous gangs. But we won’t stop until we’ve broken this business model. Anyone attempting to bring illegal wildlife products into the UK – by air, sea, or post – will be searched and prosecuted.”
The Government has said there has been a surge in spider-trafficking, with tarantulas fetching between £50 and £500 on the black market. Other items seized included an elephant hair ring from the United States, king cobra balm from Thailand and a blacktip shark jaw from Australia.
Defra Minister Mary Creagh said: ‘The illegal wildlife trade is vile and destroys the natural world. By tackling wildlife crime we’re sending a clear message to the criminal gangs that this government will strain every sinew to bring those involved to justice.”
The seizures took place between 13 September and 15 October as part of Operation Thunder. This is led by Interpol and the World Customs Organization.