Latest news with #OperationCascade
ABC News
5 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Sunshine Coast turtle and snake smuggler convicted but avoids jail
A Queensland man involved in an illegal wildlife smuggling ring has been convicted in a Sunshine Coast court. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) said Sunshine Coast man Jesse Sayeg, 33, first came to the attention of authorities after Victorian Australian Border Force officers intercepted a package from the Philippines in March 2023. The package had been declared as toys but officers had noticed a smell coming off it. An X-ray revealed a variety of reptiles and spiders, and once it was opened it was confirmed to contain three snakes, six iguanas, three soft shell turtles and three tarantulas. DAFF's first assistant secretary of compliance and enforcement Anna Brezzo said the animals had been concealed in drawstring calico bags. Many of them were dead. The package was also later found to have been addressed to a fake name. The discovery triggered a two-year investigation, Operation Cascade, which involved federal and state agencies. Ms Brezzo said it spanned three jurisdictions — Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. Search warrants uncovered an additional two hog nose snakes, 45 tarantulas, three eco-skeleton spiders, two scorpions, an African hedgehog and an alligator snapping turtle. Investigations are ongoing, and Ms Brezzo was unable to provide details around how many people authorities suspect to be involved. "There are a number, and certainly this individual [Sayeg] was a primary player," she said. The Caloundra Magistrates Court on Tuesday sentenced Sayeg to nine months in prison. He was convicted on two charges relating to importing conditionally non-prohibited goods. Sayeg was also charged with producing documents known to be false or Australia's biosecurity laws can carry a maximum of 10 years in prison and fines of up to $1,650,000 for an individual or $8,250,000 for a company. "We were really pleased that the court determined that a term of imprisonment was the only appropriate penalty given the seriousness of the offending," Ms Brazzo said. The court released Sayeg on a recognisance release order, which means he will not serve time behind bars. Ms Brezso said authorities were concerned by their findings so far. "The illegal wildlife trade is now the fourth-largest illicit transnational activity in the world after arms, drugs and human trafficking," she said. "It's often exploited by organised crime for financial gain, resulting in flow on effects across crime. She said all breaches of biosecurity laws were taken seriously.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Strange smell leads to shocking discovery inside packages sent to Australia
It was the odd smell coming from a parcel sent to Australia from the Philippines that made border force agents curious. An X-ray of the consignment revealed something disturbing inside — a massive haul of spiders and reptiles. Sadly, when Department of Agriculture (DAFF) agents sliced open the packages, many of the creatures had died. They'd been illegally sent through the mail to a false name, and declared as toys to try and avoid suspicion. Operation Cascade, a two-year multi-agency investigation into an illegal wildlife smuggling gang, was sparked by the discovery. On Friday, authorities revealed a man had been sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to three offences relating to the importation of live tortoises and turtles at the Caloundra Magistrates Court in Queensland. The first consignment was uncovered back in 2023. Inside were a total of three snakes, six iguanas, three soft-shell turtles and three tarantulas, all hidden inside drawstring calico bags. After warrants were issued, authorities found a further 45 tarantulas, as well as African hedgehogs, an alligator snapping turtle, eco-skeleton spiders, and snakes. Had the animals made it passed customs, they could have posed a serious risk to Australia's native species, livestock and even humans. DAFF's deputy secretary of Biosecurity, Justine Saunders, said they could have carried in diseases unknown here. 📮 Video shows Chinese student's illegal Australia Post act 🏡 Secret network of illegal collectors uncovered in Aussie suburbs 💵 Australia's common backyard creatures sold for thousands overseas People who break biosecurity laws face a maximum of 10 years in prison, fines of up to $1,650,000 for an individual or $8,250,000 for a company. 'The illegal wildlife trade is the world's fourth largest illicit transnational trade, after arms, drugs and human trafficking,' she said. '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.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
West Australian
5 days ago
- West Australian
Man jailed after exotic snakes, turtles, iguanas found in foul-smelling package marked as ‘toys' during border search
A man's attempt to import a series of exotic animals into Australia – some of which died during the ill-fated voyage – has been exposed after the plot was foiled by border force officials. 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.'
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Perth Now
Disturbing find in ‘toy' package
A man's attempt to import a series of exotic animals into Australia – some of which died during the ill-fated voyage – has been exposed after the plot was foiled by border force officials. 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). A Queensland man has been handed a nine-month prison sentence after admitting his involvement in a global wildlife trafficking ring that smuggled exotic animals into Australia. DAFF Credit: Supplied 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. Jesse Sayeg appeared in Caloundra Magistrates Court this week, where he admitted to three offences related to the illegal importation of live tortoises and turtles. DAFF Credit: Supplied 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. 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. DAFF Credit: Supplied 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. 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 Credit: Supplied 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.'
West Australian
5 days ago
- West Australian
Man jailed after exotic animal trafficking gang exposed
Noticing a strange smell, officials opened a package from overseas to discover snakes, iguanas, turtles and tarantulas - many of them dead. Two years later, a sweeping investigation into an illegal wildlife trafficking ring has led to a Queensland man being sentenced to jail. Jesse Sayeg pleaded guilty to three offences related to smuggling exotic animals into Australia in Caloundra Magistrates Court this week. It came after a multi-year probe spanning three states that exposed an illegal exotic wildlife trafficking gang, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) said. Officials were first tipped off when Australian Border Force officers noticed the smell coming from a package sent from the Philippines in March 2023. They tipped off the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry which X-rayed the parcel, revealing its exotic contents. Overall 15 reptiles and spiders were discovered in drawstring calico fabric bags - six iguanas along with three snakes, soft-shell turtles and tarantulas. The mostly dead wildlife were in a consignment under a false name and misdeclared as toys, the federal department said. The investigation into the trafficking gang that unfolded stretched across Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria, with search warrants uncovering many more animals. An additional two hog nose snakes, 45 tarantulas, two scorpions, an African hedgehog and an alligator snapping turtle were among those discovered as part of the probe. Sayeg was involved in the trafficking ring, admitting to illegally importing live tortoises and turtles in Caloundra Magistrates Court. He was sentenced to nine months in prison. "The illegal wildlife trade is the world's fourth-largest illicit transnational trade, after arms, drugs and human trafficking," the department's deputy secretary of biosecurity, operations and compliance Justine Saunders said. "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." Ms Saunders said animals introduced to Australia via illegal trafficking created "unacceptable biosecurity risks", and could be potentially devastating to agriculture, wildlife and even human health. "Any breach of Australia's biosecurity laws is taken extremely seriously." Individuals face a maximum of 10 years in prison and fines of up to $1.65 million or $8.25 million for a company, she said. The two-year probe dubbed Operation Cascade was led by DAFF with help from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water as well as Border Force and Victorian, Queensland and Western Australian agencies.
