A CrimeStoppers tip has led to the capture of two illegal reptiles in Halawa.
The Hawaiian Humane Society identifies the contraband creatures as a blue-tongued skink and a bearded dragon.
An anonymous source tipped off police in February, but it wasn’t until today that authorities could gain access to the residence, due to a water leak that the manager had to respond to.
"The previous tips we had were that there were snakes and other things, scorpions, spiders and things like that. Today when they went in they were not found," said Sgt. Kim Buffett of CrimeStoppers.
The pair will be turned over to the Department of Agriculture, which may keep them for educational purposes until they can be sent to a mainland reptile farm.
Possession of an illegal animal is a Class C felony that can carry a $200,000 fine and three years in prison.
Police believe the reptiles were pets and weren’t being bought and sold.
See the original article at: KHON2 Developing Stories
