New Zealand smuggler caught!

[SFgeckos]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/01/26/international/i140829S94.DTL

44 geckos/skinks?!? Wow that's unbelieveable

 

[robin]

14 weeks and $3500 doesn't seem to fit the crime. i would think it would have been more.

 

[StopperExotics]

+1, I agree with Robin. He should have gotten a much more strict sentence for his crimes. It just doesn't seem fitting.

 

[Keitone]

"the most serious case of its kind detected in New Zealand for a decade or more."

worth 2,000 euros ($2,800) each


Customs records showed that Kubus had also been to New Zealand in 2001, 2004, 2008, and 2009. In 2008, he had been with a Swiss reptile dealer.


"I don't think you necessarily came here to steal to sell"

These statements done add up to me.

I don't see how a $3500 fine would be deterrent. Assuming that he smuggled a similar number of reptiles his previous trips, not counting anyone that came with him, that would add up to;

44lizards per tripx3tripsx2800street value per animal=$369600total value- $3500 fine= $366100