EXCLUDED FRANCE 3. France 3 Bourgogne was able to follow a customs operation, with the French Office for Biodiversity, in search of illegally detained exotic animals.
In 2022, 52,000 exotic animals or plants were seized by French customs, for more than 400 violations observed. Very lucrative traffic is even “the third world traffic after narcotics [stupéfiants] and the weapons“, explains Lucie Granier, customs observation officer.
This Wednesday, August 30, France 3 was able to follow Burgundy customs and the French biodiversity office, in a joint operation to search for protected species held illegally. The operation takes place on a motorway service area in Côte-d’Or, on the very busy A6 motorway. As the holidays come to an end, “it is a time when people who have gone on vacation in North Africa come back to France, and often bring back animals that do not need to be imported“, explains Bruno Diolot, environmental inspector at the OFB.
Customs officers thus stop particularly laden vehicles, and search the contents of the trunk and luggage. “We are looking for animals protected by the Washington Convention and European regulations“, details Lucie Granier.
“It can be little monkeys, birds, raptors, turtles… Either people sell them or they keep them for themselves as pets. You can sometimes see celebrities posing with lion cubs, little monkeys … Above all, we must not encourage these behaviors!”
Lucie Granier
customs enforcement officer
The day of the operation, no seizure. But Burgundy customs have already come across several animals: Hermann’s tortoises, for example. Individuals can hold them, provided they have a licence.
Hermann’s tortoises seized by customs • © Dijon customs archives
Another time, during a random check, customs officers seized an exotic parrot. “We found him in a car, in conditions that were not at all suitable“, says Lucie Granier.
“He was in a small cage for dogs or cats, he had nothing to perch on, rotten food strewn on the floor… They are sensitive little animals, with special needs.” This bird was seized and entrusted to a capacity holder, a person authorized to hold protected species.
An exotic parrot seized by Dijon customs • © Dijon customs archives
“These are species threatened with extinction in their natural environment”recalls Cindy Barbet, assistant to the regional director of customs in Burgundy.
If some individuals bring back these species in good faith, ignoring the law, many offenders know perfectly well that these steps are illegal. “Protected species are the subject of extremely lucrative trafficking, whether by criminal organizations which are also diversified in other trafficking (drugs, weapons, works of art), or more simply by share of individuals who bring back these species from their holidays hoping to sell them on the black market”says Cindy Barbet.
These exotic animals can thus be found on simple sites for sale between individuals, on social networks, but also on the darknet “for the most seasoned offenders“, adds the assistant to the regional customs director.
The possession and sale of protected species is punishable by three years in prison as well as customs fines “between one and two times the value of the goods on the black market”, notes Cindy Barbet. Fines may be increased if the notion of organized crime is retained.
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