A 24-year-old Noble Park North man, accused of running a cross-border illegal wildlife trade syndicate, has been charged with 565 offences related to the illegal possession and trade of native reptiles.
He faces 528 charges under the Wildlife Act, including 306 charges related to the illegal import and export of wildlife, 24 for illegally buying and selling protected wildlife, and 198 for breaching his wildlife licence conditions.
He is also charged with 23 offences of failing to maintain legible and timely entries in his record book as part of his licence conditions under the Wildlife Regulations.
The man also faces 14 charges under the Crimes Act related to making and using false documents to facilitate illegal sales.
The Conservation Regulator alleges the man used his Private Wildlife Licence and knowledge of Victoria’s wildlife permit systems to illegally import and export a variety of native reptiles across the State’s border to fill trafficking orders.
The man was charged as part of Operation Pike, a major investigation by the Conservation Regulator into the illegal import, export, and trade of wildlife in Victoria, with assistance from Victoria Police and the Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
In January laqst year, Authorised Officers executed search warrants at two properties in Noble Park North and Caroline Springs, where they discovered and seized dozens of native reptiles that were allegedly sourced illegally, including shingleback lizards, blue-tongued lizards, and varied species of geckos.
The man is due to face Sunshine Magistrates’ Court last Thursday (Sep. 26).