Japanese man arrested for wildlife smuggling in Australia

I hope he spends 10 years in prison and pays the maximum fine.

The maximum penalty for wildlife trade offences under Australian law is 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to A$210,000 for individuals.

As opposed to groups? He KNEW what he was doing and took the risk anyway, let him spend 10 thinking about that!

Seriously? I have eaten lizards before during a family event. Caugt them in the forest. Plus i have kill quite a few before. They are a pest at my grandparents vegetables field.

Guess i shouldn’t say this out loud when i visit that country.Never understood why people would pay that much for a reptile. Some are rare,but is just food in my eyes.

Probably a lot of dislike coming my way.

10 years in the slammer? you can get less than that for man (person?) slaughter these days!

The native Australian species can fetch up to A$10,000 ($7,200) each on the international black market.

What the hell is wrong with people?

Seriously? I have eaten lizards before during a family event. Caugt them in the forest. Plus i have kill quite a few before. They are a pest at my grandparents vegetables field. 

Guess i shouldn’t say this out loud when i visit that country.Never understood why people would pay that much for a reptile. Some are rare,but is just food in my eyes.

Probably a lot of dislike coming my way.

Not your country, not your rules. I doesn’t matter what your experiences with the reptiles are. That silly tourist decided to break the rules. Rightfully so he should be fined and arrested.

This is no tourist, this man was smuggling for business. People like him, and those he steals for, and those they sell to, should all be stopped.

And I thought Japanese behaved whilst overseas???

And I thought Japanese behaved whilst overseas???

You thought all Japanese people were exactly the same and there were no outliers? What a silly thought? Whatever would make you believe such an illogical concept? Why would you believe such a silly idea?

Australia doesn't take these things lightly. This guy is toast

A couple of times a year a Japanese person gets caught attemting to smuggle animals out of Australia. Reptiles, birds, bird’s eggs, spiders and insects. The penalty is severe and the risk is great, but the rewards are high if successful. There used to be an exotic pet shop in near higashi-Nakano station in Tokyo, perhaps it is still there. I was shocked to see so many protected Australian species of animals for sale in this shop and for ridiculous prices. I suppose it is possible some were bred in Japan, but not likely.

These particular lizards would have a sale price of more than a thousand dollars each. If the reward is there, these smugglers are going to continue to attempt to get these unique animals out of Australia. The only way to stop the smugglers is for Japan to ban the sale of protected species, which will never happen. One can still buy ivory in Japan. Australia takes animal smuggling very seriously. Let’s hope this smuggler gets the punishment he deserves.

I’m looking forward to seeing this guy’s face plastered on posters at air terminals around the country. Along with his name and nationality, in big, bold romaji. Name them and shame them!

Cover him with eucalyptus oil & feed him to the koalas

A lot of money for a weeks animal torture. He is no silly tourist. They should check his travel history and who he met.

Some are rare,but is just food in my eyes. Probably a lot of dislike coming my way.

well you just stated the obvious right there, many Australia lizard species are rare and any capture or eating of them put a lot of pressure on the population, many of them are protected species its call wildlife conservation. Coming from Japan who cant even preserve what's left of the oceans fish species (because it tastes so good) this is the comment that we've all come to expect. When they're all gone they wont be tasty anymore will they !

He wont be the only one doing this. Smugglers come from all countries, not just Japan.

Give him the max penalty.

10 years in the slammer? you can get less than that for man (person?) slaughter these days!

what does that tell you, dont go to Australia and smuggle wildlife or youll end up in some serious shite

Animal cruelty for having lizards in your bag. :)

Wildlife is already having a hard enough time from us as a species, well done Australia!

https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/crime/border-force-officers-bust-alleged-lizard-smuggler-at-perth-airport-ng-b881016843z

I think Kozo Akasaka, 45, had a cavity check too. He’s walking funny.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/raw-japanese-man-arrested-after-attempting-to-smuggle-lizards-out-of-australia/video/94bbf16b65a12c343011748c022f6195

I hope he spends 10 years in prison and pays the maximum fine.

10 years we would have to feed and generally take care of the guy at taxpayers expense. Not keen on that idea.

I'm sure he will be deported and if convicted would probably spend time in a Japanese jail.

@Tooheysnew - Cover him with eucalyptus oil & feed him to the koalas

Don’t you mean, drop bears? :D

Agree the cost/benefit equation needs to be reset, the punishment needs to seriously outweigh the potential benefit but there will always be the greedy stupid among us, the organisers need to be stopped (with even higher punishment) and governments internationally need to remove the market for them by banning the sale and possession with serious costs for breaking the law.

Please, PLEASE try him and imprison him there. He will receive NO punishment at all if he's sent back to Japan for "trial".

We rag on some countries for firing squads and canings, but imprisonment for smuggling? Unless they are smuggling humans against their will (aka imprisoning), they should not themselves be imprisoned. Fines - go for it, but imprisonment?

Smithinjapan:

He likely will not be extradited to Japan. His crime is punishable fairly equitably under both jurisdictions (dual criminality - fines and/or imprisonment in both Australia and Japan) so, unless he can argue hardship, I doubt he will be extradited (sent back to be tried in Japan).

I’m from Perth and I’m sure they will throw the book at this nutball, which they should. With the tight security at Australian airports how did he think he could pull this off? Probably not thinking much at all. Not a good look.

A couple of times a year a Japanese person gets caught attemting to smuggle animals out of Australia. Reptiles, birds, bird’s eggs, spiders and insects. The penalty is severe and the risk is great, but the rewards are high if successful. There used to be an exotic pet shop in near higashi-Nakano station in Tokyo, perhaps it is still there. I was shocked to see so many protected Australian species of animals for sale in this shop and for ridiculous prices. I suppose it is possible some were bred in Japan, but not likely.

These particular lizards would have a sale price of more than a thousand dollars each. If the reward is there, these smugglers are going to continue to attempt to get these unique animals out of Australia. The only way to stop the smugglers is for Japan to ban the sale of protected species, which will never happen. One can still buy ivory in Japan. Australia takes animal smuggling very seriously. Let’s hope this smuggler gets the punishment he deserves.

All under the disguise, we have been trading illegal and exotic animals in Japan for a long time. This is Japan da yo! How dare you attack our culture? Just like ivory and whaling. TSK TSK Japan!

Maximum penalty please! Now enjoy the 'unique welcoming culture' of a country that generally appreciates and protects animals (humans too) infinitely more than Japan can even conceive. I hope he has a long time to ponder animal rights and humanity in general.

Would it be logical for me to now be suspicious of all Japanese that visit 'my country'? Are they all there to torture and smuggle our native animals?

...

@hiro, "Probably a lot of dislike coming my way". yep, you was right!