Smuggler had 947 cacti and succulents

AUCKLAND: A woman who attempted to smuggle nearly 1000 succulents and endangered cacti into New Zealand has been sentenced in court.

Wenqing (Wendy) Li (38) pleaded guilty to charges related to two separate incidents at Auckland International Airport.

Li was sentenced in the Manukau District Court this week to 12 months’ intensive supervision and 100 hours’ community work.

On 24 March 2019, Li — a seller and trader of succulents and cacti on Trade Me — strapped stockings containing 947 succulents and cacti on to her body and attempted to smuggle them into the country on her return from China.

After being noticed by a detector dog, Li tried, unsuccessfully, to hide her offending by disposing of items in the airport toilets.

The cacti included eight endangered and threatened species. The plants were worth more than $10,000.

In a separate incident on July 23, 2019, Li was found in possession of 142 unauthorised seeds that were hidden in two commercially packaged iPad covers in her luggage.

More than 200 plant pots were also discovered as well as garden ornaments wrapped in mouldy wet paper.

The plant pots were also found to contain a snail and two pieces of tree fern stem. — RNZ