Man jailed after exotic snakes, turtles, iguanas found in foul-smelling package marked as ‘toys' during border search
Queensland man Jesse Sayeg was this week handed a nine-month jail term after pleading guilty in Caloundra Magistrates Court to three offences related to the illegal importation of live exotic animals.
The case was cracked open in March 2023 when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers became suspicious of a package sent from the Philippines.
A strong odour from the package prompted them to alert the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
An X-ray of the parcel, which has been misdeclared as 'toys' and sent under a false name, revealed a consignment of reptiles and spiders.
A DAFF veterinarian opened the package to discover three snakes, six iguanas, three soft shell turtles and three tarantulas stuffed into calico drawstring bags.
Many of the animals were dead.
The discovery launched a two-year, multi-agency investigation dubbed Operation Cascade, which uncovered a broader criminal network spanning three Australian states including Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.
Subsequent search warrants led authorities to seize a further trove of exotic species, including two hog nose snakes, 45 tarantulas, three eco-skeleton spiders, two scorpions, an African hedgehog and an alligator snapping turtle.
DAFF Deputy Secretary of Biosecurity, Operations and Compliance, Justine Saunders, warned of the serious risks posed by such illegal activity.
DAFF Deputy Secretary of Biosecurity, Operations and Compliance, Justine Saunders, said the illegal introduction of exotic animals into Australia poses a significant threat.
'Exotic animals can carry biosecurity risks and diseases unknown in Australia, potentially devastating agriculture, native wildlife and even human health,' Ms Saunders said.
She said breaches of Australia's biosecurity laws are treated with the utmost seriousness, carrying penalties of up to 10 years' imprisonment and fines as high as $1.65 million for individuals, or $8.25 million for companies.
'DAFF has more than a thousand biosecurity officers working at our borders and in mailrooms every day who are trained to pick up anomalies in the system,' she said.
Ms Saunders said wildlife trafficking was a major global crime, ranking just behind arms, drugs and human trafficking in scale.
'DAFF, along with other government agencies, are united in their commitment to eradicate the illicit wildlife trade and will take vigorous and relentless action to seek out those responsible, bring them to justice and stop this global crime.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Influencer' dies live on camera after months of abuse – all streamed on Australian website
A French social media influencer has died on camera during a two-week livestream marathon after months of being 'humiliated and mistreated' for the entertainment of viewers. Raphaël Graven, better known to his 500,000 subscribers as Jean Pormanove, died in his sleep on Monday during a broadcast on the Australian-based website Kick. The 46-year-old from Contes, north of Nice, is said to have suffered from a serious heart condition and had been broadcasting for more than 298 hours before his death. Videos seen by the London Telegraph featuring Graven with influencers Owen Cenazandotti, 26 – known as Naruto – and Safine 'Safi' Hamadi, 23, apparently show him regularly being beaten, strangled, force-fed, doused in unpleasant liquids and targeted with a paintball gun. The creators of the videos allegedly received financial donations from viewers, who encouraged more and more degrading and extreme acts to be broadcast. Loading The death has caused outrage in the French media, with Le Monde describing the dark side of human nature as 'reminiscent of some of the most chilling episodes from the British dystopian tech series Black Mirror '. Politicians called on regulators and livestreaming platforms to explain how the apparent abuse was broadcast online without any intervention. Prosecutors in Nice confirmed they had opened an investigation into Graven's death and are conducting a post-mortem examination on Thursday.
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
‘Influencer' dies live on camera after months of abuse – all streamed on Australian website
A French social media influencer has died on camera during a two-week livestream marathon after months of being 'humiliated and mistreated' for the entertainment of viewers. Raphaël Graven, better known to his 500,000 subscribers as Jean Pormanove, died in his sleep on Monday during a broadcast on the Australian-based website Kick. The 46-year-old from Contes, north of Nice, is said to have suffered from a serious heart condition and had been broadcasting for more than 298 hours before his death. Videos seen by the London Telegraph featuring Graven with influencers Owen Cenazandotti, 26 – known as Naruto – and Safine 'Safi' Hamadi, 23, apparently show him regularly being beaten, strangled, force-fed, doused in unpleasant liquids and targeted with a paintball gun. The creators of the videos allegedly received financial donations from viewers, who encouraged more and more degrading and extreme acts to be broadcast. Loading The death has caused outrage in the French media, with Le Monde describing the dark side of human nature as 'reminiscent of some of the most chilling episodes from the British dystopian tech series Black Mirror '. Politicians called on regulators and livestreaming platforms to explain how the apparent abuse was broadcast online without any intervention. Prosecutors in Nice confirmed they had opened an investigation into Graven's death and are conducting a post-mortem examination on Thursday.
7NEWS
5 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Bali drug arrest: Woman facing death penalty after cocaine, ecstasy allegedly smuggled in bra, sex toy
A 42-year-old woman is facing a possible death sentence in Bali after a $100,000 find allegedly hidden inside underwear and sex toys, and potentially being recruited as a mule for $31,000 online. The woman, who authorities have identified as a Peruvian citizen, allegedly travelled from Spain to Denpasar, via Qatar, on August 12. The woman, identified by police as having initials NS, allegedly had 1.4kg of cocaine and 85 ecstasy pills with a street value of at least $100,000 hidden inside 'underwear and sex toys', a police spokesperson said. Authorities said the woman was displaying suspicious behaviour at the airport and she was flagged for a search. 'The customs officers suspected her behaviour, and after consulting with the police, they did a further check on her,' Bali police narcotics unit director Radiant said at a press conference. 'The narcotics were hidden in six plastic packages wrapped in black duct tape inside a green bra, three similar packages in black underwear, and a sex toy containing drugs, which was inserted into her body.' Indonesian Police are investigating a potential link to an international drug syndicate, believing the woman was 'recruited' through the dark web to bring the drugs from Barcelona to Bali. After customs officials made the discovery at I Ngurah Rai International Airport on August 12, she was arrested and taken to prison. 'Investigators believe the cocaine was intended for foreign residents in Bali, raising concerns over the island's role as a market for international drug cartels,' the spokesperson added. If convicted, the Peruvian woman could face death by firing squad as Indonesia continues its zero tolerance policy on drugs. The tourist hotspot has had multiple noteworthy alleged drug smuggling incidents of late, as authorities attempt the stamp out drug problems. Australian arrested on alleged drug importation in Bali In May, Australian Lamar Aaron Ahchee, originally from Queensland, was arrested in Bali after allegedly attempting to import 1.7kg of cocaine into Indonesia. Mr Ahchee, who lived in Sydney from around 2011 to 2017, has lived and worked in both Australia and Indonesia in recent years. On April 12, 2025, Indonesian National Police alleged that two packages were sent from England to Indonesia. Police say the two packages arrived in Denpasar on May 20 before being sent to two separate post offices — one in Mengwi, the other North Kuta. Although not addressed to Mr Ahchee, the two packages allegedly ended up in his possession, leading to his arrest. Customs officers carried out an X-ray of the two packages, with the result leading them to suspect that they contained narcotics concealed within. The customs officers then worked with the Bali Police Narcotics Director to organise what they called a controlled delivery of the packages. The alleged drug bust On May 22, police allege Mr Ahchee used a driver to collect the two packages from the two post offices, before the driver, referred to by police as 'witness YE', took the packages to Mr Ahchee's apartment. Police said the collection of the packages happened in two separate trips, with Mr Ahchee allegedly ordering the driver to return for the second package. Police swooped in after both packages were delivered, arresting Mr Ahchee at a property in North Kuta. Police alleged they obtained 1.8kg of cocaine from the property, which without the package weighed 1.7kg. Authorities claim to have also found scales, small plastic bags and a phone within the apartment where Mr Ahchee was arrested. Mr Ahchee allegedly told police that he did not know the owner of the narcotics, instead claiming he had been ordered to collect the delivery from a person named 'boss' in exchange for Rp. 50 million ($4750). Police say the quantity of drugs seized in Mr Ahchee's apartment had a street value of $1.1 million. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trading confirmed they were assisting an Australian in Bali. 'Owing to our privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further comment,' a spokesperson said. Who is Lamar Aaron Ahchee, the Aussie arrested over alleged drug important in Bali Mr Ahchee's LinkedIn profile lists senior roles with high-profile companies including OMNIA Dayclub Bali (Hakkasan Group), Seadeck Australia and Marquee Nightclub Sydney. It also includes a junior role as a public relations coordinator at Qantas. According to his social media profiles, Mr Ahchee had been living in Indonesia since 2017. His LinkedIn Profile lists his last role as general manager of Brick Lane Bali, a restaurant and bar in Canggu. In a recent Facebook post, Mr Ahchee announced he was leaving Brick Lane to 'embark on new adventures'. 'As I step away from general manager at Brick Lane to embark on new adventures, I want to take a moment to reflect on this incredible journey,' he wrote. 'From a slab of concrete to conceptualising a new vision, redesigning, and eventually transforming this space into a true spaceship, it's been a ride that I will always be proud of.' In another post in March 2024, Mr Ahchee announced his partner was moving to Bali to live with him after a chance encounter. 'Ohhh how pretty she is without makeup,' he said alongside a series of images and videos of a woman. 'My peace: her eyes, My happiness: her smile. My comfort: her lap. My home: her arms. My world: her. 'She is a deadly combination. A great sense of humour, dirty mind (she is German after all/ her Polish balances her out), and a beautiful heart. 'Today, she is moving to Bali. 'People never forget how you make them feel. 27 April 2023, it was pure magic how someone's sight can make you smile. 'I was actually intimidated for the first time by (a) girl of her wittiness, beauty and charm. 'No person is sent to you by accident, the universe fights for certain souls to find one another, trust me, I'm 42. 'I believe when it's finally right, everything that you love ruthlessly, will love you back with the same conviction. 'They led you to the person you were meant to be. 'No one can tell you or show you, it's a feeling like no other. When you know, you know. 'I love you and I can't wait for your life with me in Bali,' he wrote. Prince's foul-mouthed sledge to Harry and Meghan 1 min read Indonesia's drug policy Indonesia has a zero-tolerance approach to drug-related offences, and has enforced its strict policy in the past with harsh penalties, including for Australian Schapelle Corby and the infamous Bali Nine. Drug law in Bali is governed by Law 35, last updated in 2009. The law, which was established in 1997 to 'eradicate narcotics abuse and illicit trafficking', now lists punishment for perpetrators as including the death penalty. 'To ensure a deterrent effect against perpetrators of narcotics and narcotics precursor abuse and illicit traffic, it (the 2009 update) also regulates about the weighting of criminal sanctions, either in the form of a special minimum criminal, imprisonment of 20 (twenty) years, life imprisonment, or the death penalty,' the law says. 'Criminal weighting is being made based on the class, type, size, and number of narcotics.' Schapelle Corby and the Bali Nine In October 2004, Corby arrived at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, where customs officers located 4.2kg of cannabis concealed in a boogie board cover. Corby claimed she had no involvement, with her legal team later arguing Corby had been used as an innocent mule by scheming baggage handlers in Australia. By May 2005, Corby was sentenced to 20 years in the notorious Kerobokan Prison for drug importation. After seven years inside one of the world's hardest and most dangerous prisons, Corby was given a sentence reduction of five years, later leaving prison on parole in 2024. On May 27, 2017, Corby was deported from Indonesia, finally returning to Australia. Shortly before Corby's conviction, a group of Australians were arrested in Bali over another alleged drug plot. The Bali Nine, consisting of Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran, Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens and Renae Lawrence, were arrested in April 2005, found in possession of around 8.3kg of heroin that they were attempting to export to Australia. Chan and Sukumaran, deemed to be the ringleader of the $4 million drug plot, were sentenced to death. The two men were executed by firing squad on April 29, 2015 in Nusa Kambangan, Indonesia. The remaining six male members, Chen, Czugai, Nguyen, Norman, Rush, and Stephens were eventually sentenced to life in prison after appeals were completed, with the sole female, Lawrence, sentenced to 20 years. In 2018, Lawrence was released early due to good behaviour. She returned to her home town of Newcastle in New South Wales. Shortly after Lawrence was freed, Nguyen died in a Jakarta hospital following a battle with cancer.
