§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will give details of animal products seized by the Metropolitan police in Operation Charm; and how many people were arrested; [5446]
(2) if he will give details of those premises raided by the Metropolitan police in Operation Charm and the names and nationalities of people arrested. [5452]
§ Mr. MacleanI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that, in the most recent phase of Operation Charm, a property in west London was968W searched on 30 November and over 1,000 items believed to contain derivatives of species protected under the convention on international trade in endangered species were seized. The species protected under CITES include tiger, bear, rhinoceros, saiga antelope, tortoise, cobra and pangolin. It is not normal practice to identify any individuals concerned at this stage in proceedings.