Stingrays, tarantulas and pythons smuggled into the UK amid worrying trend

Hundreds of endangered animals are being seized from travellers arriving in Great Britain, including giant , dangerous snakes and even stingrays.

Strict rules govern the types of creatures that are allowed to enter the country to protect threatened wildlife. But new Home Office show figures reveal that the Border Force seized some 245 live animals on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list.

The penalty for not having a permit to carry an animal on the CITES list can be an unlimited fine, up to seven years in prison, or both. Latest statistics show a sharp rise in the amount of endangered animals seized in the past two years, from 91 in 2022 to 245 in 2023.

Last year, those detained included a number of exotic animals including 40 members of the tarantula spider species, four stingrays and nine African grey parrots. A ball python , which can grow to 6ft long, and a Nile monitor lizard, traditionally found in sub-Saharan Africa, were also seized.

Wildlife crime is worth up to £17 billion globally per year, and is the fourth-largest international crime according to Interpol, behind only arms, drugs and human trafficking. Experts are warning holidaymakers that they need to know what they can bring home, from live animals to food products and large sums of money.

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Mario Van Poppel, CEO of leading currency exchange firm Manor FX, who obtained the figures, said: “Millions of people leave and enter the UK each day by air, sea and land. The Border Force plays a vital role in making sure anything brought in abides by the law. Our research shows a worrying increase in the number of endangered species being brought into the UK without permission. Whilst some of this activity will be by criminal smugglers, sometimes ordinary people don't realise what they can and can't bring back home and are unwittingly breaking the law.

"All live animals being brought into the UK will need the correct paperwork, such as a health certificate, and for any animals on the CITES list, they will likely need a permit to be exported or imported. It's important that strict policies are in place to prevent the illegal trafficking of endangered species.” Passengers who fail to abide by customs regulations can face hefty fines and even prison sentences.

The UK Border Force officers use an 'intelligence led' approach to detecting illegal trade, training staff to spot wildlife crime. And they take part in Operation Thunder, a global effort to target the illegal wildlife trade, every year.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Wildlife crime is a serious organised crime which threatens species with extinction, fuels corruption, deprives some of the ’s poorest communities of sustainable livelihoods and degrades ecosystems.

“Border Force plays a leading global role in cracking down on the illegal wildlife trade by intercepting suspect packages and seizing unlicensed wildlife products.”

Passengers carrying cash equivalent to £10,000 or more when entering or leaving Great Britain must declare it to customs officials. Mr Van Poppel added: “It’s vital that people stick to the rules on carrying cash in and out of the country as this is one of the key weapons against international money laundering.

“And it’s not just the rules at the British border that you have to abide by, as some countries have strict rules with smaller amounts of money than the £10,000 permitted in this country.

“It’s always important to do your research while travelling in and out of the country to make sure you stay on the right side of the law.” Manor FX is a leading foreign currency exchange with more than 30 years of experience.

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