WA: Man arrested for allegedly smuggling snakes out of Aust

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-1999
WA: Man arrested for allegedly smuggling snakes out of Aust

PERTH, Dec 27 AAP - A month-long surveillance operation has ended with the arrest of
a German national for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 80 native snakes and lizards
out of Australia.

Justice and Customs Minister Amanda Vanstone said today the 36-year-old man was arrested
at Geraldton, 400km north of Perth, on Christmas Eve as he allegedly tried to send 59
skinks by post to Germany.

The skinks are a species native to the Pilbara and Murchison regions of Western Australia.

"I am advised that further investigations and a search of a vehicle led to an assortment
of 27 other Australian reptiles being discovered inside a portable cooler," Senator Vanstone
said.

"The reptiles included monitors, skinks, geckos and pythons."

Customs officials had monitored the man's movements after he was alleged to have posted
a parcel to Germany containing a lizard more than a month ago.

Senator Vanstone said investigators had intercepted a parcel containing a small monitor
lizard inside a video cassette case.

The man's arrest comes less than a month after another German national was discovered
trying to smuggle 74 native lizards from Adelaide International Airport.

Lutz Obelgoenner, 36, of no fixed address, was not required to enter a plea when he
faced East Perth Magistrates Court today charged with two counts of attempting to export
natural fauna out of the country.

He was remanded in custody by Magistrate Ivan Brown to appear again on January 14.

AAP am/mo/bm/de

KEYWORD: LIZARDS NIGHTLEAD

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