On October 30, 2019, investigators from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, NSW Department of Planning and Environment and NSW Police executed a search warrant at a Terrigal home.

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While Warwick was not home during the search, police seized 138 reptiles, including blue-tongued lizards and shingleback lizards. Investigators also seized similar parcels to those they’d intercepted, and clothing matching what was captured in the CCTV.

A few days later, Warwick attended Gosford Police Station and underwent an interview with authorities, where he did not comment on the packages but said the person in the CCTV looked like him.

Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek said the government was cracking down on wildlife smuggling.

“Smuggling is merciless – animals are transported under cruel, stressful, and often fatal conditions,” she said. “Exporting Australian wildlife is a serious offence under Australia’s national environment law. The maximum penalty is 10 years imprisonment, or fines of up to $275,000, or both.”

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“Our native Australian reptiles are highly sought after overseas and criminal gangs take them from the wild without the slightest concern about how their actions could impact Australia’s natural environment.

“This disgusting and cruel trade is growing and increasingly recognised internationally as a specialist and lucrative area of organised crime. That is why the Australian government is focused on stamping it out.”

Warwick remains on bail and will appear before Downing Court on May 4 for sentencing.

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