“A large number of rare geckos which had been imported from Tanzania have been seized by Border Force at Heathrow.

Border Force officers at Heathrow’s Terminal 4 found 165 turquoise dwarf geckos which were being imported last month in a consignment of animals which also included chameleons, scorpions and frogs.

Turquoise dwarf geckos are critically endangered and are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). They are currently only found in two locations in Tanzania.

The seizure was referred to investigators from the National Crime Agency’s Border Policing Command.

On Friday 20 March NCA officers executed a search warrant at an address in the Swindon area, arresting a 41-year-old man on suspicion of an importation offence. He was later bailed until July pending further enquiries.”

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Source: UK Border Force