A Chinese national who attempted to smuggle nearly 100 native Australian reptiles overseas has been sentenced in Sydney, with authorities warning that wildlife trafficking will "not be tolerated."

Shiyao Wang, 27, was sentenced to 2 years and 7 months imprisonment in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court, to be served by way of an Intensive Corrections Order (ICO).

Wang was caught attempting to mail dozens of lizards, restrained in socks and hidden inside household goods, to Hong Kong.

The investigation, dubbed Operation ARES, was led by Environmental Crime Investigators from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

In November 2024, investigators seized eight parcels containing 19 blue-tongued lizards which had been packed using "cruel and inhumane" method

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