A CACHE of native Australian animals, including some of the country’s deadliest snakes and a bird known for its swooping attacks, was seized today in raids on suspected international wildlife traffickers, said police.

New South Wales police said they searched six homes across Sydney in connection with a trafficking ring spanning Australia, Asia and North America.

Officers discovered three feared snakes – a death adder, a python and a red-bellied black – as well as lizards, turtles and magpies, the black-and-white birds best known Down Under for swooping on unsuspecting cyclists, and unrelated to the covetous Eurasian magpie.

Police said the raids are part of a wider investigation that began last year into a criminal syndicate operating on the three continents and involved in wildlife trafficking, large-scale fraud and money-laundering.

Two men, aged 27 and 55, were arrested today. Police said they expect to lay charges.

The animals will be released into the care of professional wildlife handlers. – AFP, June 24, 2020.