Nicholas Thomas Havet: New South Wales man fined over attempt to smuggle lizards out of WA

A New South Wales man has been fined after he was caught attempting to smuggle reptiles out of Western Australia — a move that proved fatal for nearly all of the animals.

Northam Magistrates Court heard on Monday that 28-year-old Nicholas Thomas Havet had travelled to WA in early 2023 in order to capture and mail the lizards back to his home in NSW.

On two occasions between March and April 2023, Havet had travelled to Perth and rented a vehicle to drive to the state’s north west.

Prosecutors said he had captured the smuggled lizards while travelling through the area.

Havet was captured on CCTV purchasing two parcels from a Narembeen post office.

He then travelled 70km away to Merredin, where the court heard he had mailed the lizards.

The court was told two parcels had been intercepted at Perth Airport, with Australia Post officials discovering the boxes contained 65 animals.

There were a range of reptiles located inside the parcels — including bobtail lizards, thorny devils, and western blue tongue lizards.

Four of the reptiles were already deceased at the time of discovery, while a further 51 required euthanasia due to their condition.

Ten of the remaining reptiles were rehomed within WA.

Havet was apprehended at a post office in Port Hedland four days after arriving in WA on his second trip.

A search of his vehicle found plastic containers with holes drilled in them, as well as an endoscope camera and two phones.

The court was told Havet had previously lodged five parcels believed to contain lizards from WA — all of which were successfully delivered to the eastern states.

Prosecutors alleged Havet was motivated by financial gain, with the sale of the lizards on the black market estimated to earn between $65,000 and $1.3million.

The 28-year-old did not appear in the Wheatbelt courthouse for either his sentencing or an earlier hearing.

He was found guilty in absentia for six charges of exporting fauna without lawful authority.

During sentencing, Magistrate Sarah Wisbey told the court Havet had subjected the reptiles to “cruel and inhumane treatment” for profit.

He was fined a total of $31,000.