Wildlife Crime Officers from Lancashire Police and the National Wildlife Crime Unit investigating the illegal trade in endangered species executed a search warrant at an address in the Burnley area on 23/10/2014.   Officers seized items including four Leopard skins, a Jaguar skull, a Sperm whale tooth and two stuffed Snowy owls, which are all included on Annex ‘A’ of the Control in Endangered Species Enforcement Regulations 1997 and received the highest level of protection..  Following the raid a 23 yrs old man attended Colne Police Station on a voluntary basis where he was interviewed.   Officers are now continuing with their enquiries and looking at the provenance of the seized specimens. 

Chief Inspector Martin Sims, who is the Head of the National Wildlife Crime Unit said, “The illegal trade in endangered species is a UK Wildlife Crime priority.  The trade in Annex ‘A’ species is strictly controlled and any person who chooses to trade in such species has a duty to comply – compliance is not an optional extra.  We will continue to work in partnership with UK Police forces and other enforcement agencies to target people who are prepared to trade illegally”.