Hong Kong – A total of 42 living lizards in danger of extinction have been seized by customs officials at Hong Kong International Airport, the government said.
All lizards were found on Tuesday hidden within a declared aerial shipment that contains dehumidifiers, air purifiers and dairy cans imported from Australia, the government said in a statement on Wednesday.
The lizards had an estimated market value of $ 210,000 from Hong Kong ($ 27,000).
The case was delivered to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation to obtain additional measures, the statement added.
Any matter, export or has samples of endangered species in violation of the Chinese territory protection law faces a maximum fine of HK $ 10 million and 10 years in prison after the conviction with lost specimens, the government warned.
In 2024, Hong Kong officials made about 550 seizures of species of plants and animals in danger of extinction, including living orchids, one of the most threatened plants on Earth and the American ginseng, which appears in danger of extinction in Canada.
Last September, a 45 -year -old Chinese woman accused of smuggling 64 turtles in danger of extinction in Hong Kong was sentenced and sentenced to 18 months in jail. The woman, who arrived from Tokyo, wrapped some of the turtles in socks and packed the rest in two small plastic boxes.
