A Birmingham man has been sentenced after a bizarre attempt to smuggle dozens of alligator heads into the UK through an airport, with the intention of selling them online.
From Souvenir to Smuggling Operation
Mahesh Kumar, a 52-year-old former chef from Jayshaw Avenue in Great Barr, Birmingham, initially bought a single alligator head as a souvenir during a trip to America to visit his wife. However, his solicitor, Raj Dew, explained that interest from friends and family prompted him to see a business opportunity.
"Friends and family stated 'they look nice, can we have one?'" Ms Dew told Birmingham Magistrates' Court. "His partner being an American, that's how it all started. He then brought a few more over. His partner got involved. He started selling them on eBay."
Border Force Intercepts Mislabeled Parcels
Kumar's scheme unravelled when Border Force officials intercepted three parcels, each containing 20 alligator heads, at East Midlands Airport on February 7, 2021. Despite the items being deliberately mislabelled, a further package with another 20 heads was stopped just three days later, on February 10.
The court heard that Kumar had deliberately failed to obtain the necessary importation permit required for the protected species. He later pleaded guilty to two charges of fraudulently evading a prohibition.
Unusual Case Leads to Suspended Sentence
Passing sentence on Wednesday, December 17, District Judge David Wain noted that the smuggling of alligator heads was "an unusual thing to appear before the court". He acknowledged that a prosecution expert identified the heads were "probably the by-product of leather farming" and that there was no evidence the animals were unlawfully harvested.
However, Judge Wain emphasised that American alligators are a protected species and that unlicensed importation could undermine conservation efforts. He told Kumar: "Smuggling prohibited items into the UK is a serious matter. If you do so again you will know almost inevitably you will go to prison."
Kumar was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. The judge cited significant prosecution delays, Kumar's current health issues, and the fact he had not reoffended in the four years since the crime as reasons for suspending the term. Kumar, who is now on benefits after leaving his chef job due to health problems, was also ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity and pay a £128 victim surcharge.
