Police seize 80 alligator heads waiting to be sold on eBay from Birmingham house

Police have seized 80 alligator heads from a house in Birmingham after receiving a tip-off that they were being illegally imported and sold on eBay.

Officers from West Midlands Police's National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) raided the house in the Perry Barr area of the city on Thursday where they found the haul.

A spokesperson said: "We received information that the heads were being imported from abroad illegally and sold on through eBay to buyers all around the world at a large profit to the seller.

“We carried out a joint investigation with the NWCU culminating in today’s warrant.

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The spokesperson added: “We believe that the suspect has been illegally importing the heads for some time, with regular sales being seen on eBay.

“The warrant was conducted under the Control of Trade of Endangered Species Act and a 44-year-old man has been voluntarily interviewed."

The Control of Trade of Endangered Species Act gives police powers to enforce controls on the trade of endangered species and makes it an offence to sell, keep for sale, transport for sale or use species for commercial purposes.

The Royal family are among those who campaign for an end to the illegal wildlife trade.

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Last year Prince William, who is patron of the conservation charity Tusk Trust, said the coronavirus pandemic helped highlight the dangers the trade poses to public health.

He told a virtual meeting of the United for Wildlife Taskforces and conservation organisations: "Never before have the public health risks of the wildlife trade come into such sharp focus.

"Right now, there is a real chance to ensure that the urgent steps that the world must take to prevent future zoonotic disease pandemics are designed in a way that also helps to eradicate the illegal wildlife trade."

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