Man fined $31k after botched smuggling attempt kills 55 reptiles

A New South Wales man has been fined more than $30,000 for a bid to smuggle reptiles out of Western Australia that killed almost all of the animals.Northam Magistrates Court heard Nicholas Thomas Havet, 28, travelled to Western Australia twice in 2023, where he captured reptiles and attempted to mail them home to NSW.Two parcels intercepted by Australia Post at Perth Airport contained 65 animals, including bobtail lizards, ornate crevice dragons, thorny devils, western blue tongue lizards, geckos and variegated dtella.Four of the reptiles were deceased, and a further 51 were euthanised due to their poor condition. The haul of lizards Havet was trying to smuggle included blue tongues, like the one pictured here. (ABC Wimmera: Andrew Kelso/ File)The remaining 10 reptiles were rehomed.Prosecutors said Havet's motive was financial gain, with the lizards' value on the black market estimated to be between $65,000 and $1.3 million.The 28-year-old did not appear in court for either his sentencing or a hearing in July where he was found guilty in absentia of six charges of exporting fauna without lawful authority.Havet had travelled to WA on two occasions, collecting reptiles to smuggle to NSW. (Supplied: DBCA)Smuggler travelled around WAProsecutors told that hearing Havet had travelled to WA on two occasions between March and April in 2023, renting a vehicle in Perth before travelling to the state's north west.He was captured on CCTV purchasing two parcels from a post office in Narembeen, 290 kilometres east of Perth, before lodging the parcels containing the lizards in Merredin, 70km away.Prosecutors say Havet's motive was profit, with the lizards worth significant amounts on the black market. (Supplied: Parks and Wildlife/ File)The court heard Mr Havet was in WA for four days before he was apprehended at the Port Hedland Post Office, an additional 1,500km north, while waiting for a delivery.A search of his vehicle located plastic containers with holes drilled in them, an endoscope camera and two mobile phones. The court heard Havet had previously lodged five parcels suspected to contain lizards that were successfully delivered.Havet was found guilty of sending fauna without legal authority. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Eliza Bidstrup)During sentencing, Magistrate Sarah Wisbey told the court Havet exposed the reptiles to "cruel and inhumane treatment" and was running an "illegal operation for profit".Havet was fined a total of $31,000, with each of the six charges carrying a maximum penalty of $50,000.