Australian customs officials destroy $19,000 handbag | Dinogo

In January, the Australian Border Force (ABF) intercepted a Saint Laurent bag purchased online from a boutique in France at a cargo depot in Perth, Western Australia.

The handbag had cost the buyer 26,313 Australian dollars, according to the Australian government.

Although alligator products can be imported into Australia, they are regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to ensure they aren't tied to the illegal wildlife trade.

Despite having obtained an export license from Europe, the buyer lacked the required CITES import permit for Australia, as stated by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

Consequently, the department seized the handbag, but chose not to take further action against the buyer.

Commenting on the case, Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley reminded importers that they must have the proper permits to bring certain goods into the country.

‘We all need to be aware of our online purchases, as limiting the trade of animal products is vital to ensuring the long-term survival of endangered species,’ Ley stated, emphasizing that Australia rigorously monitors imports and exports.

Jason Wood, the Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, highlighted that the country keeps a close watch on illegally imported goods, including ‘fashion accessories, tourist trinkets, furs, taxidermy animals, and ivory.’

Among the items recently confiscated by ABF officers in Perth was a Canadian gray wolf pelt.