(MENAFN) A Japanese national has stood before court on Wednesday, after being arrested at Melbourne International Airport allegedly trying to sneak 19 lizards out of Australia in her suitcase.
The Australian Border Force (AFB) confirmed that the woman, aged 27, was caught after a tip-off from the agency's international network which has been on high steadiness after two other similar cases involving Japanese citizens.
Last November, a man, aged 45, was arrested at Perth Airport and in February, another man, aged 46, was also detained while attempting to depart from Sydney.
"This is a significant result, which I hope will act as a deterrent to those thinking of exploiting Australia's native wildlife," according to ABF Investigations Commander Graeme Grosse.
"Thanks to information provided by our international colleagues, we've now been able to foil three smuggling attempts across three states, all linked to the same syndicate."
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