A major animal trafficking ring has been busted, and wildlife smuggler, Jesse Sayeg sentenced to 9 months prison after pleading guilty to 3 offences related to smuggling live turtles and tortoises into Australia.
Mr Sayeg's criminal activities were uncovered during a 2-year investigation across 3 jurisdictions. Operation Cascade was led by our department in collaboration with Australian Border Force, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia state agencies.
During the investigation into this animal trafficking gang, hog nose snakes, tarantulas, eco-skeleton spiders, scorpions, iguana, a hedgehog, and turtles were seized.
Attempting to smuggle animals into Australia is not only illegal it is cruel. The animals suffer severe stress, dehydration and starvation and many die along the way. Exotic animals also pose a biosecurity risk as they may carry diseases that threaten our native and agricultural animals and even human health.
We have more than 1000 frontline biosecurity officers using the latest technology and working in unison with other enforcement agencies to detect criminal activity. Help us stop animal trafficking by reporting anything suspicious. Call our biosecurity hotline 1800 803 006.
