THE AGE (Melbourne, Australia) 03 April 08 Alleged snake smuggler could get 10 yrs

A Melbourne man has been charged with trying to smuggle four valuable live snakes from Africa into Australia.

The 32-year-old man from Ferntree Gully, in Melbourne's east, will face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with four counts of illegally importing an endangered species.

He could face 10 years in jail and a $110,000 fine.

The snakes, believed to be green tree pythons, were allegedly sent from South Africa in separate parcels in late March.

Australian Customs officers intercepted the parcels using state-of-the-art X-ray equipment, Customs investigations national manager Richard Janeczko (Janeczko) said.

Customs and Department of Sustainability and Environment officers carried out search warrants in Melbourne's east and south-east in Cranbourne, Belgrave South and Ferntree Gully on Wednesday.

Mr Janeczko said wildlife smuggling was a cruel practice carried out with no thought for the welfare of animals.

"It's a big business with some specimens attracting high prices among collectors," he said.
Alleged snake smuggler could get 10 yrs

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