Women jailed for attempting to smuggle iguanas through Heathrow Airport

  • London
The animals were discovered by customs officers. Credit: Home Office

Two women have been jailed for attempting to smuggle endangered iguanas at Heathrow Airport.

Romanian nationals Angla-Alina Bita, 26, and Vitora-Oliva Bucsa, 24, were arrested after the animals were found during customs checks by Border Force officers at Heathrow Terminal 5 on February 3.

The iguanas were wrapped in an individual sock and had been stuffed into suitcases.

Twelve of the animals survived but one died during the journey.

The animals were discovered by customs officers. Credit: Home Office

The animals were extremely dehydrated when they were found and have been given specialist care in the UK.

Authorities are planning on eventually returning them to their natural habitat in the Caribbean.

Twelve of the iguanas survived but one died during the journey. Credit: Home Office
The pair attempted to smuggle the iguanas in a suitcase. Credit: Home Office

The pair were each sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty at Isleworth Crown Court.

The women had arrived on a flight from the Bahamas and were due to fly to Dusseldorf, Germany.

Angla-Alina Bita pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Credit: Home Office

The head of the Border Force CITES team said the rarity of the species made the discovery an "incredibly significant seizure".

"The iguanas are critically endangered and in effect priceless.This makes it all the more shocking that someone was willing to take them from their habitat and transport them halfway around the world in these kinds of conditions," Grant Miller said.

Vitora-Oliva Bucsa was also sentenced to a year in prison. Credit: Home Office

Species policy officer for WWF UK added: "At a time that criminal gangs are threatening the very future existence of some of our most precious animals, it is good to see UK authorities clamping down on the traffickers posing a serious threat to the survival of endangered species such as these iguanas."