Advanced Search

International Crimes

In the modern world with increased communication and travel opportunities crime is increasingly an international issue. International crime includes: technology crime (such as money laundering, fraud, confidence tricksters or other internet scams), immigration offences, extradition (either into or out of this country). The Crown Prosecution Service cooperates with international agencies in order to effectively prosecute international crimes.

Investigation and prosecution of immigration offences

Legal guidance on Immigration offences and protocol

Factsheet about extradition

Home » News Centre » Press Releases » CPS welcomes sentencing on illegal internet trading in wildlife products

CPS welcomes sentencing on illegal internet trading in wildlife products

02/12/2005

Today's sentencing at Swaffham Magistrates' Court of teenager Mark Rowland for illegally trading stuffed animals and birds on internet auction site Ebay has been welcomed by the CPS. Mr Rowland received an 8 months suspended jail sentence, 200 hours unpaid work, 225 costs and forfeiture of his stock of wildlife products.

CPS reviewing lawyer in the case, Nicholas Crampton, said: "The trading of certain animals, plants and their products is controlled under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) in order to protect those species. Earlier prosecutions under these regulations have usually been against shops or importers operating illegally. But today's sentencing shows this legislation applies to individuals using internet auction websites in their own home just as much as it applies to professional traders dealing in taxidermy or live specimens.

"This prosecution was about enforcing CITES to protect endangered species and also about protecting internet users and legitimate traders from illegal trading."

Mark Rowland, 19, pleaded guilty to 11 charges of either deception or illegal trading in wildlife and stuffed animals on the Ebay website including:

  • Selling a stuffed black bear and keeping another to be sold.
  • Advertising for sale wild bird eggs including barn owl eggs.
  • Selling a stuffed buzzard and keeping for sale a barn owl, a kestrel, a tawny owl, a long eared owl, a sparrow hawk and another buzzard, all stuffed.
  • Attempting to obtain money by deception by advertising a coyote skin on Ebay as a wolf skin.

Mr Rowland also asked that 9 other offences be taken into account.

Mr Crampton said: "The extent of which this lad was trading was quite substantial. Over the course of about a year, Ebay's records showed he made 160 purchases and sold 230 items, making him a profit of over 5,000."

For more details, please contact CPS Press Office on 020 7796 8105.