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Source: ONE News -
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Asian importers are being given notice that if they deal in medicines containing endangered wildlife, their chances of being caught are higher than ever.
New Zealand is taking part in a global crackdown on the trade in endangered species.
Illegal wildlife imports worth thousands of dollars in local Chinese medicine stores are being seized coming into Auckland Airport. The packets and vials contain animals and plants mainly from highly endangered Asian species such as tigers, bear and turtles.
The worldwide operation is designed to give enforcement agencies a better idea of what species are crossing New Zealand's borders and MAF and Customs says importers should beware.
"We are much more likely to detect people trying to evade us at the border, we've learnt a lot about illegal and legal trading practices," says Theresa Orrissey from MAF Biosecurity.
A rice cooker found during one operation had powder ground from the protected hawkesbill turtle concealed inside and an Auckland woman trading out of a warehouse was fined $22,000 for importing it.
She told ONE News she did not realise she was selling endangered species and insists she is no longer knowingly bringing them in.
But Customs says her conviction and fine has set a precedent and there will be more.
