TWO MEN SENTENCED FOR SMUGGLING ENDANGERED SPECIES.
CUSTOMS OPERATION - RETORT
21 Jan 2002 11:57 AM
Today at Isleworth Crown Court two men were sentenced for the
attempted importation of 23 endangered birds of prey and for
illegally keeping other animals. The animals are protected as
endangered species under international CITES regulations.
Raymond Leslie Humphrey (15.06.49), unemployed British national of
Tilney All Saints, Norfolk, was sentenced to six and a half years
imprisonment.
Peera Jungthirapanich (30.09.78), Student Thai national of Derby
University was sentenced to twenty two months imprisonment.
When sentencing Judge Jonathan Lowen said:
''Humphreys is an experienced criminal who knew that he could make
money by reducing animals to a commodity which was cruel in the
extreme.''
On 25 July 2000, Jungthirapanich and another man arrived at
Terminal 3 Heathrow Airport from Bangkok. Customs Officers observed
and allowed the two men to proceed through the Customs Green Nothing
to Declare Channel to the arrivals concourse with two suitcases.
Jungthirapanich and the other man were later joined by Humphrey and
the three men were followed to an airport car park where they were
observed loading the suitcases into a hire car.
Customs Officers moved in and arrested the three men on suspicion of
evading a restriction on the importation of endangered species.
When Customs officers examined the two suitcases they discovered:
Twenty-Three birds of prey (all controlled under CITES regulations).
The birds had been bound and placed in individual plastic tubes that
had air holes drilled in them. Pieces of broken chopsticks held the
birds in place. All the birds were in a state of distress. The birds
were immediately removed to the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow
Airport. On arrival at the Animal Centre six birds were found to be
dead.
Customs Officers, assisted by Officers from Norfolk Constabulary and
the RSPCA, executed at Customs search warrant at Humphrey''s Norfolk
address and discovered -
54 birds (Crested Serpent Eagles, Changeable Hawk Eagles, Blyth''s
Hawk Eagles) One golden Cheeked Gibbon ( only 1000 left in the world)
Seven Slow Loris (a nocturnal South East Asian primate)
Five tortoises.
The search also revelled; a large quantity of plastic tubing and a
suitcase containing shed feathers. (Similar to that used to transport
the imported birds of prey), a dead Slow Loris and several dead birds
of prey were discovered in a freezer.
On 25 July 2001, Jungthirapanich pleaded guilty to the importation of
endangered species. Humphrey pleaded not guilty.
On 26 October 2001 Humphrey was charged with the importation of birds
of prey that were found at his premises. On the same day Humphreys
pleaded not guilty to knowingly aquiring and possession of goods,
subject to a restriction on importation contrary to Section 170 of
the Customs & Excise Management Act 1979 , namely endangered species.
Norfolk Constabulary has brought charges against Humphreys for
trading in and thief of endangered species.
On 17 January 2002 The third man arrested was found not guilty of the
importation of the birds of prey. Humphrey was found guilty of 23
charges of Importation, keeping and trading in endangered species and
theft of a bird of prey.
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1. CITES = Convention on the International Trade in Endangered
Species. 2. The maximum penalty for smuggling endangered species is 7
years.
HM Customs & Excise
www.hmce.gov.uk
News release
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