A luxury crocodile handbag, presented on April 7, 2014 in New York -
Stan Honda AFP
An alligator skin bag worth around AU $ 26,000, or 16,000 euros, was destroyed by Australian customs, reports the
Sydney Morning Herald
.
The purchase made online by an Australian in a Saint-Laurent store in Paris did not comply with the wildlife regulations of her country.
The buyer did not have the necessary permit to import such an object and the authorities considered that it could come from illegal trafficking in wild animals.
In Australia, the purchase of products made from alligator is authorized but this trade is regulated.
The government has signed, like 182 countries, the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES), says
Capital,
which relays the information.
An import tax of 43 euros unpaid
To receive such a bag, the buyer would have had to pay an import permit and an export permit.
She only paid for the CITES export permit.
She should therefore have paid an additional 43 euros for the bag to reach her safely.
An oversight that costs a lot ...
As soon as the bag passed through the hands of customs officials in Perth, it was confiscated.
“We all need to be aware of what we buy online, as restricting the trade in animal products is essential for the long-term survival of endangered species,” said Sussan Ley, Federal Environment Minister.
The fate of the buyer could have been much worse.
In Australia, someone who violates wildlife regulations faces up to ten years in prison and more than 135,000 euros in fines.
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