A Thai man has been convicted for attempting to smuggle 50 protected parrot eggs out of South Africa at OR Tambo International Airport in August. This case marks the first prosecution linked to two interceptions that resulted in the confiscation of 468 eggs.
The Kempton Park Regional Court handed down the sentence on Monday. As part of a plea agreement, the 50-year-old received a fine of R500,000 or a five-year prison term, which is suspended for five years provided he pays R300,000 to the South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) for the care of animals seized during enforcement operations.
The 468 eggs were seized in two airport incidents in July and August. Despite their poor conditions during smuggling, many of the eggs eventually hatched thanks to the efforts of Sanbi staff.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment stated that the payment acknowledges the costs involved in caring for confiscated wildlife and the processing of evidence for prosecutions.
Meanwhile, an arrest warrant has been issued for a second suspect, a 23-year-old Thai national, who was apprehended in July while attempting to smuggle 418 parrot eggs hidden in two homemade incubator bags.
The Green Scorpions are continuing their investigation into the suspected trafficking network, with assistance from international partners.
