20 live water monitor lizards were caught being smuggled by Akbar Akram from the Philippines to Massachusetts. The lizards were hidden in socks and sealed with tape then put in the backs of stereo speakers and other electronic equipment. Akram said he was planning on selling the lizards for about $1,000 each. But a federal prosecutor said that they could have a "retail value in the exotic pet market of as much as $2,500 each for a total value of up to $50,000." Many people want these lizards because of their unique colors, variety of patterns, intelligence and rarity. “Akram violated Philippine law and U.S. law by illegally trafficking live water monitor lizards' ' stated Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark, of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
Questions
Would You buy any sort of animal from a black market seller?
I don't think I would, because I don't need any new pets right now. Also Its very illegal.
What Kind of punishment do you think Akabar Akram should receive?
I think that he should have to pay a fine and be searched every time he leaves or enters a country.
Replies
Good job overall Katie. I do think you should have replied a few more times.
I would never buy any sort on animal or anything for that matter by a black market dealer, becasue that is illegal and I don't want to get in trouble. If I want a pet or an animal for some reason I will buy it at a pet shop or get it from a shelter. I think he should not be allowed to enter the United States anymore, or at least be thoroughly checked before ever entering again, and he should have to pay fines.
No I don't think I would buy someting from the black market cause I don't know the person or if what they are selling is ligit and Its not legal anyway. The punishment that Akabar should recive is restitution and some jail time, breaking the law is breaking the law no matter how you look at it. Also he should not be able to fly out of the country for awhile.
I agree with you, I would also never buy anything from the black market whether it be and animal or something else. Because it is illegal and if it is an animal it might carry some disease or something over to the United States from where ever it is coming from in the world.
I agree with you at first when I read the title of this article it sounded really silly, but then when I read how much the lizards were worth it sounded so much more serious than the title. And he was involved with the Black Market and that is always really bad.
I wouldnt buy any thing from a black market seller but if it was llegal i would probably invest in one of these lizards becasue they look super cool. I think Akabar should get fined alot of money becasue those are animals that he stole and i think he should not be allowed in the Philippines.
I wouldn't buy any animal from the black market because its illegal, and most animals sold on the black market are very dangerous and extremly expense. I think that he should face prison time for illegally selling and holding animals. Also, he should be checked extremely carfully everytime he enters another country.
I agree with you, I would also never by anything from the black market (whether that be an animal or anything else). I wouldn't want an animal from there because like you said they can be very dengerous, expensive, and I would worry about them carrying over some disease from where they are from.
I wouldn't like to buy an animal off the black market because it is dangeaus, illegal, and you don't know if they will accually have it, or if it is a trap. I think he should have to pay for the animals and not be alowed to the county where he got them.
No, I would not buy an animal from the dark market, because first: it is illegal and second: I can not imagine that those animals are in a good health condition, which is why I would not support the seller. He should get a high fine or even worse, go to prison for the torgering of those creatures.
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