A man has received a suspended prison sentence for smuggling live chameleons and venomous snakes into the UK.
In 2020, a shipment of over 100 pygmy chameleons from Cameroon was discovered concealed inside a box of snakes at Heathrow Airport. Subsequently, Humberside Police executed a search warrant at the Hull residence of Mark Brittain, revealing additional evidence.
Mark Brittain pleaded guilty to two counts of importing articles subject to restrictions without declaring them. The 48-year-old from Hull, Steynburg Street, received a four-month suspended prison sentence at Hull Crown Court and was also ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid community work.
PC Rich Fussey from the Rural Task Force acknowledged the collaboration with UK and African authorities, describing the investigation as lengthy and complex.