A SMUGGLING ring bringing endangered tortoises and parrots into the UK has been smashed by wildlife investigators.
The breakthrough came after officials acting on a tip-off stopped a van in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, and discovered 15 of the reptiles and two parrots in cramped conditions.
It is understood the tortoises were being delivered to Scottish addresses after being sold through advertisements and the internet, for prices in excess of £150 each.
Some of the breeds of tortoises recovered from the van, which had travelled from the south of England, are on the verge of extinction.
They had been captured from the wild and brought into Britain to be used in breeding for the pet trade.
But the practice is illegal as they are endangered species.
One investigator said: "This is just the tip of the iceberg and it is a significant development. We expect this discovery will lead to arrests in England.
"There is legal breeding of tortoises and illegal breeding of tortoises and this definitely comes into the latter category.
"They were being delivered to homes throughout Scotland but people are probably unaware that they are breaking the law buying them this way.
"Proper documentation for the tortoises is required from the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs and this smuggling is becoming big business and a major problem."
The source added: "Gone are the days of the £2 tortoise being put in the garden to crawl about. The tortoises, some of whom are from breeds which are critically endangered, were not in good condition so this raid was a major success as this practice needs to be stamped out.
"One of the breeds was sub-tropical, coming from the West Indies, so this smuggling venture appears to be worldwide. But we suspect they are being brought in from somewhere in Europe."
The joint operation was conducted by Lothian and Borders Police and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Two men were detained after the van was stopped and interviewed before being released. The tortoises are being looked after at SSPCA centres.
Investigators are still establishing how the tortoises, which come from around the world, managed to get into Britain via Europe.
Constable Mark Rafferty, wildlife crime officer with Lothian and Borders Police, who featured recently in BBC Scotland's documentary Wildlife Detectives, confirmed the operation had taken place in conjunction with the SSPCA. He said 15 tortoises had been recovered.
"Our inquiries are continuing and we hope to be a position to make more arrests soon.
"It is another example of agencies working well together to stamp out wildlife crime," he added.
Doreen Graham, a spokeswoman for the SSPCA, said: "We would ask the Scottish public to help us track information to establish the size of the trade.
"We would like to speak to anyone who has bought any tortoise this year. We would ask them to contact us on 0870 240 4832."
The maximum sentence for being involved in the smuggling and sale of endangered species is two years in prison or a £10,000 fine under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and regulations controlling the trade in endangered species.
This article: http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1316362007
A SMUGGLING ring bringing endangered tortoises and parrots into the UK has been smashed by wildlife investigators.
The breakthrough came after officials acting on a tip-off stopped a van in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, and discovered 15 of the reptiles and two parrots in cramped conditions.
It is understood the tortoises were being delivered to Scottish addresses after being sold through advertisements and the internet, for prices in excess of £150 each.
Some of the breeds of tortoises recovered from the van, which had travelled from the south of England, are on the verge of extinction.
They had been captured from the wild and brought into Britain to be used in breeding for the pet trade.
But the practice is illegal as they are endangered species.
One investigator said: "This is just the tip of the iceberg and it is a significant development. We expect this discovery will lead to arrests in England.
"There is legal breeding of tortoises and illegal breeding of tortoises and this definitely comes into the latter category.
"They were being delivered to homes throughout Scotland but people are probably unaware that they are breaking the law buying them this way.
"Proper documentation for the tortoises is required from the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs and this smuggling is becoming big business and a major problem."
The source added: "Gone are the days of the £2 tortoise being put in the garden to crawl about. The tortoises, some of whom are from breeds which are critically endangered, were not in good condition so this raid was a major success as this practice needs to be stamped out.
"One of the breeds was sub-tropical, coming from the West Indies, so this smuggling venture appears to be worldwide. But we suspect they are being brought in from somewhere in Europe."
The joint operation was conducted by Lothian and Borders Police and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Two men were detained after the van was stopped and interviewed before being released. The tortoises are being looked after at SSPCA centres.
Investigators are still establishing how the tortoises, which come from around the world, managed to get into Britain via Europe.
Constable Mark Rafferty, wildlife crime officer with Lothian and Borders Police, who featured recently in BBC Scotland's documentary Wildlife Detectives, confirmed the operation had taken place in conjunction with the SSPCA. He said 15 tortoises had been recovered.
"Our inquiries are continuing and we hope to be a position to make more arrests soon.
"It is another example of agencies working well together to stamp out wildlife crime," he added.
Doreen Graham, a spokeswoman for the SSPCA, said: "We would ask the Scottish public to help us track information to establish the size of the trade.
"We would like to speak to anyone who has bought any tortoise this year. We would ask them to contact us on 0870 240 4832."
The maximum sentence for being involved in the smuggling and sale of endangered species is two years in prison or a £10,000 fine under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and regulations controlling the trade in endangered species.
This article: http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1316362007
A SMUGGLING ring bringing endangered tortoises and parrots into the UK has been smashed by wildlife investigators.
The breakthrough came after officials acting on a tip-off stopped a van in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, and discovered 15 of the reptiles and two parrots in cramped conditions.
It is understood the tortoises were being delivered to Scottish addresses after being sold through advertisements and the internet, for prices in excess of £150 each.
Some of the breeds of tortoises recovered from the van, which had travelled from the south of England, are on the verge of extinction.
They had been captured from the wild and brought into Britain to be used in breeding for the pet trade.
But the practice is illegal as they are endangered species.
One investigator said: "This is just the tip of the iceberg and it is a significant development. We expect this discovery will lead to arrests in England.
"There is legal breeding of tortoises and illegal breeding of tortoises and this definitely comes into the latter category.
"They were being delivered to homes throughout Scotland but people are probably unaware that they are breaking the law buying them this way.
"Proper documentation for the tortoises is required from the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs and this smuggling is becoming big business and a major problem."
The source added: "Gone are the days of the £2 tortoise being put in the garden to crawl about. The tortoises, some of whom are from breeds which are critically endangered, were not in good condition so this raid was a major success as this practice needs to be stamped out.
"One of the breeds was sub-tropical, coming from the West Indies, so this smuggling venture appears to be worldwide. But we suspect they are being brought in from somewhere in Europe."
The joint operation was conducted by Lothian and Borders Police and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Two men were detained after the van was stopped and interviewed before being released. The tortoises are being looked after at SSPCA centres.
Investigators are still establishing how the tortoises, which come from around the world, managed to get into Britain via Europe.
Constable Mark Rafferty, wildlife crime officer with Lothian and Borders Police, who featured recently in BBC Scotland's documentary Wildlife Detectives, confirmed the operation had taken place in conjunction with the SSPCA. He said 15 tortoises had been recovered.
"Our inquiries are continuing and we hope to be a position to make more arrests soon.
"It is another example of agencies working well together to stamp out wildlife crime," he added.
Doreen Graham, a spokeswoman for the SSPCA, said: "We would ask the Scottish public to help us track information to establish the size of the trade.
"We would like to speak to anyone who has bought any tortoise this year. We would ask them to contact us on 0870 240 4832."
The maximum sentence for being involved in the smuggling and sale of endangered species is two years in prison or a £10,000 fine under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and regulations controlling the trade in endangered species.
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