Australian Customs foils hatching of smuggled eggs
A 48 year-old French national has been found trying to smuggle 23 exotic bird eggs into Australia yesterday.
The eggs were found when Customs officers at Sydney International Airport searched a passenger when he arrived on a flight from Thailand.
When officers conducted a frisk search, they found 23 eggs concealed in a vest worn by the man.
“Australia has some of the strictest wildlife protection laws in the world. Wildlife smuggling is a cruel practice and one which often results in the death of the animals while in transit," a customs officer said.
The eggs were placed in an incubator by officers and are being held in quarantine by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) until the eggs are identified.
The maximum penalty for smuggling wildlife is a fine of $ 110,000, and/or 10 years jail.