Hong Kong Customs today (March 13) seized 14 tortoises and 25 lizards of suspected scheduled endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $780,000, at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A 26-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from South Africa via Dubai yesterday (March 12). He was intercepted for customs clearance at the arrivals hall of the airport. Customs officers found the batch of tortoises and lizards in two items of clothing and three plastic bottles inside his check-in baggage. Upon inspection by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the batch of tortoises and lizards was suspected to be endangered species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong. The man was subsequently arrested by Customs officers. The case was handed over to the AFCD for follow-up investigation.

     The arrested man will be charged by the AFCD with one count of illegal import of an Appendix II species and one count of cruelty to animals. 

     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.

     Also, according to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), any person who, by wantonly or unreasonably doing or omitting to do any act, causes any unnecessary suffering to any animal commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for three years upon conviction.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Ends/Friday, March 13, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:20

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