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Crocodylus Porosus?
The detection of the ‘crocodylus porosus’ showed that border security was certainly not porous.
What is crocodylus porosus?
2. The story began on 23 January 2007, at around 11.50am, when an officer from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Cruise Centre was conducting routine security checks on the belongings of an arriving male traveller.
Herbs from Indonesia?
3. As usual, the ICA officer asked if there was anything to declare. The traveller said ‘no’. The officer continued with the checks. Found amongst his belongings were seven suspicious-looking specimens wrapped in a red towel. When questioned, the traveller claimed that they were ‘herbs’ from Indonesia. Unconvinced, the ICA officer directed him to a more detailed interview.
The answer…
4. In the course of the interview, the traveller admitted that the ‘herbs’ were actually crocodile penises. The crocodiles were later established to be of the crocodylus porosus species, more commonly known as the saltwater crocodile.
5. The man (a 29-year-old Indonesian) and his items have been handed over to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for further investigations.
Penalties
6. The saltwater crocodile is a threatened species (ie. Appendix II) protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which Singapore is a party. Under the Singapore’s Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act (ESA), the export and import of CITES-protected species must be accompanied by CITES permits from the exporting and importing countries. Under the ESA, it is an offence for any person to import and export CITES-protected species without a permit from AVA. Upon conviction, the offence can carry a penalty of a fine of up to $500,000 and/or a jail term of up to 2 years. The illegal specimens would also be forfeited and handed over to AVA.
Vigilance at the borders
7. As our country's first line of defence against terrorist threats, ICA keeps a vigilant watch at Singapore’s borders to ensure the security and safety of Singapore. We are always tightening our security checks at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. To potential smugglers thinking of bringing unlawful items into Singapore, our advice is… Don’t. Even. Try.
What is crocodylus porosus?
2. The story began on 23 January 2007, at around 11.50am, when an officer from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Cruise Centre was conducting routine security checks on the belongings of an arriving male traveller.
Herbs from Indonesia?
3. As usual, the ICA officer asked if there was anything to declare. The traveller said ‘no’. The officer continued with the checks. Found amongst his belongings were seven suspicious-looking specimens wrapped in a red towel. When questioned, the traveller claimed that they were ‘herbs’ from Indonesia. Unconvinced, the ICA officer directed him to a more detailed interview.
The answer…
4. In the course of the interview, the traveller admitted that the ‘herbs’ were actually crocodile penises. The crocodiles were later established to be of the crocodylus porosus species, more commonly known as the saltwater crocodile.
5. The man (a 29-year-old Indonesian) and his items have been handed over to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for further investigations.
Penalties
6. The saltwater crocodile is a threatened species (ie. Appendix II) protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which Singapore is a party. Under the Singapore’s Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act (ESA), the export and import of CITES-protected species must be accompanied by CITES permits from the exporting and importing countries. Under the ESA, it is an offence for any person to import and export CITES-protected species without a permit from AVA. Upon conviction, the offence can carry a penalty of a fine of up to $500,000 and/or a jail term of up to 2 years. The illegal specimens would also be forfeited and handed over to AVA.
Vigilance at the borders
7. As our country's first line of defence against terrorist threats, ICA keeps a vigilant watch at Singapore’s borders to ensure the security and safety of Singapore. We are always tightening our security checks at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. To potential smugglers thinking of bringing unlawful items into Singapore, our advice is… Don’t. Even. Try.