Woman smuggles tiger penis into NZ

A Cambodian woman who tried to smuggle a tiger penis and gallbladder into New Zealand could face a fine of up to $100,000.

The woman was searched after MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) detector dog Kelso indicated she was carrying something when she arrived at Auckland airport from Singapore on Saturday.

The dog's handler Courtney Moore did a full search and found a stocking tied around her waist and a plastic bag around her leg, said MAFBNZ in a statement.

MAFBNZ detector dog programme manager Craig Hughes said the find sent a strong signal to people thinking about smuggling illegal goods into New Zealand.

Tiger is an endangered species and protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

MAFBNZ said while some cultures valued tiger parts for supposed medicinal benefit, the risk to the species was extreme and globally all tiger species were endangered.

Genuine tiger penises were rare and could be sold at inflated prices for use in adornment, rituals and medicines.

The woman was travelling with her daughter and husband and if she was charged could be fined up to $100,000 or jailed for up to five years or both under the Biosecurity Act.

MAFBNZ said it had yet to decide if the woman would be charged.

- NZPA