550+ charges for alleged illegal wildlife trade syndicate linchpin

A 24-year-old Noble Park North man accused of running a cross-border illegal wildlife trade syndicate has been charged with 565 offences related to the illegal possession and trade of native reptiles.

He faces 528 charges under the Wildlife Act 1975, including 306 charges related to the illegal import and export of wildlife, 24 for illegally buying and selling protected wildlife, and 198 for breaching his wildlife licence conditions. He is also charged with 23 offences of failing to maintain legible and timely entries in his record book as part of his licence conditions under the Wildlife Regulations 2013.

The man also faces 14 charges under the Crimes Act 1958 related to making and using false documents to facilitate illegal sales.

The Conservation Regulator alleges the man used his Private Wildlife Licence and knowledge of Victoria’s wildlife permit systems to illegally import and export a variety of native reptiles across the State’s border to fill trafficking orders.

The man was detected and charged as part of Operation Pike, a major investigation by the Conservation Regulator into the illegal import, export, and trade of wildlife in Victoria, with assistance from Victoria Police and the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

In January 2023, Authorised Officers executed search warrants at two properties in Noble Park North and Caroline Springs, where they discovered and seized dozens of native reptiles that were allegedly sourced illegally, including shingleback lizards, blue-tongued lizards, and varied species of geckos. Officers also seized documents and electronic devices.

In a related matter, a 21-year-old Caroline Springs man was fined $30,000 at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court last month after he pleaded guilty to 19 charges, including unlawfully taking reptiles from the wild and possessing illegally sourced wildlife.

Native animals, including reptiles, are protected by law in Victoria, and it is illegal to import, export, and trade them without authorisation. Offenders face penalties of up to $19,759 per charge. It is a serious offence to falsify documents and carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment per charge under the Crimes Act 1958.

The man is due to face Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on 26 September 2024.

Anyone with information about illegal wildlife trade or other wildlife crime can make a confidential report to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.

Quotes attributable to Adam Toma, Acting Chief Conservation Regulator

“Our wildlife laws and permit systems exist to protect the welfare of native animals and the Conservation Regulator will not tolerate any exploitation of these processes for the illegal trade of wildlife.”

“If you know anything or have seen suspicious behaviour around wildlife, we encourage you to report it to Crime Stoppers Victoria. Even a small amount of information from the public can help fight native wildlife crime.”