Authorities in New South Wales (NSW) have reported an alarming increase in the smuggling of live insects, intercepting a record 27 postal packages containing live ants and cockroaches since April. This operation, highlighted by Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, has revealed around 500 native ants, including several queens, and nine giant burrowing cockroaches being concealed within everyday items such as children’s toys, cushions, Tic Tac containers, and even an Air Fryer.
The persistence of this illegal activity is primarily attributed to a thriving black market for Australian native invertebrates, with individual queen ants sold online for prices reaching $300. Packages containing these insects were intended for destinations including Hong Kong, Canada, and France, with authorities successfully detecting them through X-ray screenings and inspections of suspicious parcels.
Watt expressed concern over the rise in illegal harvesting of native insects from their natural habitats, emphasising the ecological role these creatures play in the environment. Ants and cockroaches contribute significantly to the ecosystem, serving as nature’s recyclers, and their illegal removal poses a serious threat to Australia’s biodiversity and its cherished national parks.
However, Watt noted that legal channels exist for the export of ants, provided individuals obtain a wildlife harvest and commercial export permit from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
The consequences for engaging in the illegal export of regulated native species can be severe, with penalties reaching up to $330,000 in fines and possible imprisonment for a decade. The Australian Border Force (ABF) stated their commitment to combating wildlife crime and is collaborating with various agencies to bolster border controls and disrupt the operations of traffickers before they can cross international boundaries.
Acting Superintendent Shaun Baker of the ABF reiterated their objective of addressing the illegal wildlife trade by utilising targeted intelligence and specialised examination techniques. This cooperative effort aims to monitor individuals engaged in smuggling and enhance enforcement measures to halt their activities effectively.
The current situation underscores a pressing need for vigilance against wildlife trafficking, to preserve Australia’s unique species and natural heritage.