Loading...A passenger tried to smuggle about 5,000 leeches hidden in his baggage in Canada. But he failed to do it. He was caught and got a 15,000 dollar fine.
He was flying from Russia to Toronto Pearson International Airport. Leeches were identified to be medical ones. So, in May his case was heard in court. As a result, he was found guilty. The traveler broke Canada’s Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act. Thus, he is fined to pay $15,000. Environmental Damages Fund will receive the money got from the accused.
Also it is prohibited for the passenger in question to export or have any animals under the protection of the international Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. It is a one-year ban for him.
Flying to Toronto he kept leeches hidden in wet clothes in his bag. But the dog on duty sniffed them. Finally, the officials took the leeches away from him. According to the results, they are Hirudo verbena. Their value is in their medical features. Moreover, they have anti-coagulative properties.
The smuggler claimed the leeches to be for his personal use. He was intended to use their waste to take care of his plants. But environmentalists took it with a pinch of salt. The initial aim is for commercial purposes. Some often use them for cleansing blood. This kind of leeches might cost $20 per one.
Illegal trade of wildlife species puts at risk and leads to extinction some treasured species. Canada is definitely against any trade of wildlife species for trade.
