Latest news with #illegalTrade
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.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Spalding taxidermy seller fined for trading in endangered species
A shop owner has been convicted of selling stuffed endangered animals and illegal ivory Grimshaw, 71, pleaded guilty to 12 offences at Boston Magistrates' Court on a tip-off, Lincolnshire Police searched Pendragon Antiques in Red Lion Street, Spalding, in May 2024. Officers found taxidermy creatures, including kestrels and a pine of Spalding Road, Pinchbeck, was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, fined £500, and must pay costs and a £239 surcharge. He was charged under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulation 2018 and the Ivory Act found for sale a taxidermy pine marten, a barn owl, a kestrel on a branch, a kestrel in a case, a sawfish, an ivory picture frame, an ivory sphinx/lion figure and an ivory and silver presentation August, police searched both the shop and Grimshaw's home and found a tiger tooth, which they had seen on video footage in a glass display research revealed three sawfish items on sale online between June 2019 and January interviewed in March, he said he did not know the items could not be sold. Det Con Aaron Flint, the force's wildlife crime officer, said unregulated trade in "endangered species in the UK has a devastating impact on wildlife populations around the world".He added: "Iconic species continue to be illegally killed every day, making it vital that those fuelling this appalling trade are held accountable."I hope this message underscores the gravity of these crimes and serves as a strong deterrent to anyone considering involvement in such unlawful activity."Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Edvars Stancik fled over £4m illegal catalytic converter trading
A businessman fled to Lithuania after making £4.3m from illegally trading in catalytic converters and is still on the run, a court Stancik, who was director of Platinum Group Metals Recycling Ltd which was based in Spalding, Lincolnshire, was found guilty of multiple charges in his absence after he failed to attend his trial at Lincoln Crown Court in September traded catalytic converters on a large scale between December 2019 and September 2021 through the arrest warrant was issued for Stancik and his case was adjourned for investigators to pursue his financial assets but a proceeds of crime hearing on Friday was told he had still not been arrested. Recorder John Hardy KC told the court Stancik, formerly of St Thomas Court, Long Sutton, had "decamped from the country after illegally selling catalytic converters without the required authorisation".The court heard investigators found a likely address for the 31-year-old in Lithuania but he failed to respond. However, extradition proceedings had not begun and the Environment Agency was trying to recover the costs of their inquiry via assets seized from his company. Recorder Hardy ruled Stancik reaped £4.3m from his criminal activity with his company benefiting from a similar court heard assets of nearly £500,000 were available from the company made up of cash in the firm's bank account and seized catalytic only asset is £30,934 from equity in a house he sold before his trial, the court was judge ordered those amounts to be confiscated and ruled more than £100,000 should be paid to the agency in compensation to cover the costs of their said the businessman was likely to face a custodial sentence when arrested and future applications could be made to seize more assets if they were to the agency, Stancik stored the car parts at his home address and at containers in Lime Walk, Long Sutton. The devices were "stored in an irresponsible manner giving rise to an unacceptable risk to human health".The agency's investigation found Stancik and his company had been buying large quantities of catalytic converters and sold at least 71 tonnes of them for recycling. Many of them were found "damaged, exposing their dangerous innards" following a search of his pleaded not guilty to four environmental offences including two counts of causing a company to operate a regulated facility without the necessary authorisation and two of causing a company to commit an Group Metals Recycling Ltd denied charges of operating two waste sites in Long Sutton without the required permits and two counts of storing waste at the same premises without a permit and in a manner likely to cause harm to human health. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
