Note to presenter: In the following slides for this module, we have provided some region- specific information on trafficking routes and seizures,

Transcription

1 Note to presenter: In the following slides for this module, we have provided some region- specific information on trafficking routes and seizures, etc. which are relevant to your location. Feel free to use any and/or all of them, and include others that are relevant. Please ensure that any images included are used with the permission of the copyright holder and that these are appropriately credited. 1

2 Let s look at what airports are often used to smuggle wildlife 2

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4 Case Study Check- in luggage 25 September 2014: Over 1000 live turtles 1. Over 1000 live turtles found in the check- in luggage of a passenger traveling from Detroit to Shanghai. 2. Passenger had been paid by known turtle smuggler to take the animals to China for sale. 3. The turtle smuggler had been ordering the animals online. He admitted that on six occasions in 2014 he smuggled wildlife between Canada and the United States. 4. He would retrieve packages from courier offices in Detroit, then smuggle them out of the country; Repackaged the turtles and shipped them directly to China, concealing the wildlife in snow boots. Taped the live turtles to his legs and groin (a total of 51 live turtles) and returned to Canada. Packaged over 1000 turtles into suitcases, sent with a runner he had hired to fly directly from Detroit to Shanghai (as shown in slide above) edmi/pr/canadian- citizen- sentenced- charges- smuggling- turtles- united- states man- caught- 51- turtled- taped- article

5 Case Study On the person 27 January 2016: 9 live birds found in passenger clothing 1. 9 live birds found on a passenger; 6 in a fanny pack, 3 in his underwear. 2. Each bird was in an open ended canister covered with wire /Man- arrested- attempting- smuggle- nine- live- birds- airport- security- hiding- pants.html smuggling- cuba- to- miami/ Related case/s: 3 rd June 2014: 66 live birds in trousers 1. Ignacio Agramonte International Airport (CMW), Camaguay, Cuba bound for U.S.A small birds (finches and hummingbirds) hidden under trousers, some had their beaks sealed. 3. Customs officers stopped a man because of unusual bulges from under his clothing and the slow way that he was walking. 4. Two of the birds died /Budgie- smuggling- Man- arrested- trying- enter- Cuba- 66- tiny- birds- sewn- trousers- customs- officer- spots- bulge.html 12 th July 2012: 16 live birds in pockets 1. Havana, Cuba to Miami, U.S.A live Cuban Bullfinches found in 76 year old passenger s pants. 3. The birds were in hidden pockets and in plastic containers stuffed in his trousers. diaz- gonzalez- mia_n_ html 5

6 Case Study Luggage 1 March 2016: Seahorses confiscated 1. Traveler arrived at George Bush International Airport (IAH) from Viet Nam. 2. Declared he did not have any agriculture- related items. 3. Agriculture specialists discovered 55 seahorses submerged in liquid in a soft drink bottle that was wrapped in a white bag. seahorses- confiscated- from- passengers- luggage- at- houston- airport- cbp/ 6

7 Case Study Luggage 2 May 2017: 93 birds found in passenger luggage birds were found stuffed in passenger s bag at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). 2. Most of the birds were dead when they were found. valley- man- arrested- after- allegedly- smuggling- 93- birds- into- u- s- through- lax- only- 8- survived/ Similar case/s: May 2009: 14 live birds hidden on the person 1. Passenger traveling from Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam to LAX. 2. Had 14 song birds in bags sewn onto his socks, hidden under his trousers. 3. He was stopped because enforcement officers could see bird droppings on his shoes and feathers sticking out from the bottom of his trousers. bird- smuggling- picture.html 7

8 Case Study Luggage February 2017: 120 birds hidden in four suitcases 1. Authorities at Adolfo Suárez Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) seized 120 birds smuggled in four suitcases of two travelers from Mexico. 2. Both suspects are Spanish nationals, who made trips to Mexico several times in recent months. 3. Suspects had custom made cages for the birds. 4. Almost half of the birds died from asphyxiation. Special note to trainer: Due to copyright reasons, detailed images for this smuggling story cannot be included. You may view this from the following link: _ html (with video) 8

9 Case Study Luggage August 2011: 261 tarantulas in passenger s luggage 1. Swiss customs officials intercepted a man at Zurich airport (ZRH) whose luggage contained 261 endangered Mexican Red- kneed Tarantulas. 2. The passenger, a Swiss national, arrived on a flight from Dominican Republic. 3. The tarantulas were packed into individual plastic bags inside six boxes. 4. A search of the suspect s home uncovered 665 tarantulas and 72 giant flesh- eating centipedes that had also been smuggled into the country. caught- with tarantulas- at- swiss- airport/ Special note to trainer: Due to copyright reasons, detailed images for this smuggling story cannot be included. You may view this from the following link: /Plane- passenger- dozens- TARANTULAS- hidden- luggage.html 9

10 Case Study Hand- carry luggage May 2014: Airport security inspectors confiscate several shopping bags full of marine specimens 1. Airport security staff detected shopping bags full of coral, conch shells, sponges and other marine organisms as part of pre- boarding inspection. 2. Passenger was a tourist returning to U.S.A. from Roatan, Honduras and wanted to carry the items as hand carry. 3. The items seized were all protected not only by national laws but by CITES too. Special note to trainer: Due to copyright reasons, detailed images for this smuggling story cannot be included. You may view this from the following link: confiscated- at- roatan- airport- tourist- was- returning- to- us- with- marine- organisms- protected- by- cites

11 Case Study Hand- carry luggage 9 September 2014: Frogs, snakes and lizards in bags 1. Costa Rican Police at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) detained a German man leaving the country with snakes, tropical frogs and lizards hidden in his luggage. 2. Passenger was about to board a flight to Panama. 3. Security officers noticed the suspect repeatedly adjusting his bag and ordered his luggage searched after he checked in. 4. Police found nine snakes, 84 frogs, 42 lizards and 203 tadpoles stuffed into plastic takeout containers. 5. Many of the animals already were dead, the others were euthanized. ostarica/ /german- man- caught- trying- to- smuggle animals- in- a- suitcase.html Special note to trainer: Due to copyright reasons, detailed images for this smuggling story cannot be included. You may view this from the following link: tourist- busted- at- costa- rica- airport- smuggling animals- is- released- with- no- fine 11

12 Case Study On person July 2010: Police arrest man hiding 18 monkeys under clothes 1. Mexico City Airport (MEX) authorities searched a man with a bulge under his shirt and found 18 monkeys hidden beneath his clothes. 2. Two of the tiny monkeys he was carrying in a belt were dead and 16 of them survived the journey from Lima, Peru. 3. Suspect admitted he first carried the monkeys in his suitcase, but then hid the animals in his clothes so they would not be harmed by X- ray machines. Special note to trainer: Due to copyright reasons, detailed images for this smuggling story cannot be included. You may view this from the following link: index.html 12

13 Here are some other examples with links to the media coverage of these. 1. An antelope skull and porcupine quills found in passenger s check in luggage 23 February 2017 ( live birds in hand luggage September 2015 ( por- contrabando- de- aves/2015/09/12/; publico- acuso- a- italiano- por- contrabando- de- 57- aves- de- la- fauna- silvestre- en- vargas.html) 3. A parcel of eight alligator heads intercepted in Ireland s An Post's mail sorting centre after being posted from the US; five conch shells, three pieces of coral and one piece of hippo tusk ivory from the Bahamas ( heads- and- hippo- ivory- among- seizures- at- airport html) 4. A woman from Spokane in Washington state smuggled a sedated rhesus monkey from Thailand to the US, passing through customs at Los Angeles in November 2007 ( / /Pregnant- smuggler- hid- monkey- under- blouse.html) 13