Investigation on illegal export of live specimen from Tanzania to Holland and Hong Kong

On 20th April 2009 authorities at Amsterdam international Airport seized 82 live Leopard Tortoises which had been exported from Arusha, Tanzania and had been destined to Hong Kong. Later, on 15th June 2009, Hong Kong Customs intercepted three parcels from three different shipments which had arrived from the same town in Tanzania.  The parcels contained a total of 120 live leopard tortoises, 27 live Nile lizards, 20 live frogs and 20 live praying mantises.  All these consignments had been exported through postal Express Mail Service (EMS) and were not accompanied by permits from Tanzania Wildlife Division.

During July and August 2009, the Lusaka Agreement Task Force together with the Tanzania Wildlife Division and Tanzania Police carried out an investigation in Arusha which resulted in arrest of 5 suspects who are implicated in the illegal shipments. The suspects include staff of EMS and Tanzania Customs.

Some of the frogs seized with other specimens