Six endangered tortoises were found by police who raided a home in Shepherd's Bush following a tip-off.
The precious reptiles were found in the home of Kamel Gadouchi and Frederique Aline Chasles in Shackleton Court.
And the pair were told to pay more than £3,000 on Tuesday (September 13) after they were found guilty of importing and offering endangered tortoises for sale.
Officers had raided the address with a City of London Animal Health Inspector after intelligence led them to believe kittens were being illegally imported from Algeria and sold.
But when they searched the property six spur-thighed tortoises - which are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Fauna and Flora (CITES) - were discovered.
The shelled creatures were temporarily housed by Animal Health while enquiries into their importation were made.
Once it emerged they had been imported illegally, they were seized by Customs and have since been re-homed by UK Border Force.
Gadouchi, a 44 -year-old man, and Chasles, a woman aged 39, were summonsed to Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court on May 23 to answer charges relating to the illegal import and keeping and sale of an endangered species.
Gadouchi faced one count of illegally importing and endangered species in relation to six spur-thighed tortoises, contrary to the Customs & Excise Management Act 1979 and one count of illegally keeping for sale specimens covered under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997.
He was today ordered to pay the following fines: £600 for importing endangered species, £600 for offering them for sale, £375.72 court costs and £198 compensation to be paid to animal reception centre and a £60 victim surcharge.
At this week’s hearing he was fined £600 for offering the tortoises for sale and another £600 for importing endangered species. He must also pay court costs of £375.72, £198 in compensation to be paid to the animal reception centre, and a £60 victim surcharge.
Chasles faced one count of prohibited keeping for sale specimens covered under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species. She was made to pay a £600 fine for offering the tortoises for sale, £375.72 court costs and £198 compensation £60 victim surcharge.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Sarah Bailey of the Met’s Wildlife Crime Unit said: “The illegal trade in this species and the impact on their conservation status has resulted in tortoises as a group being identified as a priority for wildlife crime enforcement.
“We will continue to work closely with our colleagues in HM Customs and Excise and Animal Heath and Welfare agencies to robustly confront those trading in wildlife illegally and place them before the courts.”
