Couple arrested for smuggling tortoises into Britain

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Couple arrested for smuggling tortoises into Britain

Two suspected tortoise smugglers have been arrested at an airport after police found seven of the creatures hidden in their luggage.

Published: 7:00AM BST 18 Jul 2009

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One of the Tortoises which was found in the holiday luggage Photo: PA
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The couple suspected of tortoise smuggling are detained on arrival at Stansted Airport Photo: PA

Officers intercepted the 41-year-old man and 42-year-old woman at Stansted Airport after they were tipped off that the pair could be carrying some of the endangered species.

After the couple were arrested, police went on to raid their home in Walthamstow, east London, where they found two more tortoises and an Asian pit viper.


The couple, who flew in from Corfu International Airport today, found five police officers waiting for them as they go off the plane.

Three tortoises were found in their hand luggage and when police searched their belongings they found four others in their suitcases wrapped in socks.

One of the animals was found in a small Burberry bag and had been strapped down with black electrical tape to prevent it from moving.

"You can tell when an animal is unhappy just by looking at it and that one looked miserable," said Pc Andy Long, Essex Police Force's wildlife crime coordinator.

"It has been known for people to bring them back in order to pay for their holiday. They can sell them on for as much as £50 to £100 on the black market.

"When tortoises are smuggled in this way they suffer quite a lot and it would not be unusual for them to deteriorate and die."

He said the couple would have trawled the beaches of Corfu looking for the tiny creatures.

Pc Long said tortoise smuggling had become such a large problem in the UK that the Association of Chief Police Officers decided to prioritise cracking down on the illegal trading.

"It is the Acpo wildlife crime priority for this year because the problem in the UK needs to be tackled," he said.

"We cannot allow this trading because we need to make sure the endangered species do not become extinct."

Detective Inspector Brian Stuart of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit commented: "The focus on this species is due to the continued organised criminal activity involved in smuggling this endangered species into the UK.

"This incident reflects the organised efforts that criminals participate in, in order to facilitate their illegal financial gains"

DC David Flint from the Metropolitan Police wildlife crime unit, who co-ordinated the investigation, added: "It is really important that those who seek to trade in endangered animals are targeted by the authorities so that internationally these species are protected and able to stay in their natural habitat.

"The two people arrested today showed a blatant disregard for the law and the suffering of the tortoises that would have occurred whilst they were being smuggled over to this country."

The tortoises will now have their health assessed and they will be sent back to Corfu or re-homed in the UK.

The couple could face a jail sentence or a hefty fine if convicted
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ted-for-smuggling-tortoises-into-Britain.html
 
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