KEY POINTS:
Exotic lizards seized by biosecurity agents are likely to be destroyed as a deterrent to other smugglers.
Eleven reptiles were confiscated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Maf) after being advertised for sale online. They have been given a temporary home at Auckland Zoo but are under strict quarantine and not on public display. They include one rare "blue tree monitor", two "emerald monitors" and eight iguanas.
Maf does not know how they got past border control or how long they have been here.
"We are fairly certain they were smuggled into the country to start a pet trade and we think they've been here some time," said spokesman Phil Barclay.
He would not confirm they would be put down.
"Obviously we want to send a clear message to people that this sort of thing is not something we will tolerate."
Mr Barclay did not think it was an embarrassment the lizards were detected only after being publicly advertised.
"It sounds stupid but it is as simple as that," he said. "If people are trying to trade these things and make money from them, then they do have to advertise."
Apart from the potential for introducing diseases into New Zealand, the reptile pet trade was cruel and further endangered rare species, he said.
Iguanas needed to be kept at temperatures of between 25C and 30C and could grow up to 180cm.
He said smuggling was a "devious and cunning" trade and although border security had been breached, staff could not hope to stop every illegal import.
"People employ devious strategies to deceive border security but ... we also have post-border surveillance and that is very active."
Mr Barclay said the lizards were roughly worth "several thousand dollars". All were juveniles, the largest about 31cm. He would not say what legal action was being taken against the owners.
The reptiles could not be returned to their native lands, which included South America and Indonesia.
