Two women have been jailed for attempting to smuggle 13 endangered iguanas through Heathrow Airport - by concealing them inside socks.
Romanian nationals Angla-Alina Bita, 26, and Vitora-Oliva Busca, 24, were arrested after Border Force officers carried out checks at Heathrow Terminal five on February 3. Isleworth Crown Court heard the pair arrived on a flight from the Bahamas and were due to fly on to Düsseldorf, Germany.
The iguanas were wrapped in individual socks and stuffed into a suitcase. One of the reptiles died during the journey.
They were found to be extremely dehydrated and have since been given specialist care by experts in the UK, with the aim to return them to their natural habitat in the Caribbean.
The creatures were later identified as San Salvador rock iguanas – a species so rare only a few are known to be in existence.
Source: Evening Standard - News
