Japanese woman is arrested after an airport X-ray uncovers 19 exotic animals including blue-tongued lizards hidden in luggage bound for Japan A 27-year-old Japanese woman was arrested at Melbourne Airport on Tuesday She allegedly packed 17 shingleback lizards and two blue-tongued lizards The woman is due to face Melbourne Magistrate's Court on Wednesday
By Aap and Mary Mrad For Daily Mail Australia
Published: 10:04 BST, 24 April 2019 | Updated: 10:04 BST, 24 April 2019
A Japanese woman has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle 19 native lizards out of Australia in a suitcase.
The 27-year-old was arrested at Melbourne Airport after police allege an x-ray revealed the 17 shingleback lizards and two blue-tongued lizards in mesh packages within her luggage on Tuesday.
'They will be checked by a vet and donated to schools and other not-for-profit organisations if they can't be returned to the wild after the finalisation of the legal processes,' Environment Department
