On January 20, 2021, the officials at the customs office at Vienna-Schwechat Airport picked up a 56-year-old man who wanted to smuggle 74 species-protected chameleons hidden in a suitcase into Austria. Two of the animals had already died at the time of the control.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the passenger came from Tanzania and changed trains in Addis Abeda. He chose the so-called "green channel" and was routinely checked by the customs officers present. Since the x-ray of the item of luggage revealed a suspicious picture, the suitcase was opened and examined more intensively.

The customs officers found several hiding places such as socks and plastic cans that contained a total of 74 species-protected chameleons. The boxes were then immediately transported to the Schönbrunn zoo by customs officials, where they were opened by the zoo's reptile experts. Of the 74 animals, two were already dead and apparently died during the transport from Tanzania to Austria. The surviving chameleons were examined and cared for in the Schönbrunn Zoo. The animals are both young and only one week old as well as adult chameleons. According to the zoo's experts, they come from the Usambara Mountains, a currently very rainy and cool region in Tanzania. The reptiles are now housed in terrariums that meet their special needs such as high basic humidity and an airy and cool environment.

According to the investigation, the animals were intended for the Czech market and should be resold there. The black market value is around 37.000 euros. “The important work of customs also regularly helps to end animal suffering and to put an end to unscrupulous animal smugglers. In this way, customs not only ensure the protection of domestic companies and consumers, but also make an indispensable contribution to animal welfare and the preservation of rare species, ”explains Finance Minister Gernot Blümel (ÖVP).

The smuggler caught in the act is now facing administrative criminal proceedings with an expected fine of 6.000 euros. In addition, the animal smuggler lost his right to the animals and, in addition to his purchase price and his travel expenses, the illegal animal smuggling would be very expensive.