FROM blue scorpions to white bullfrogs, rattlesnakes to gibbons, by air or sea, wildlife syndicates here have made Singapore a significant, if completely illegal, node of the global racket.

Most of the animals traded are endangered species. The bulk of these imports come from the United States, India and Indonesia, in that order.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has identified four syndicates here that are involved in wildlife smuggling.

Going by AVA figures, it's big business and growing, despite the authority's efforts.

It estimates the live animals confiscated so far this year to be worth $300,000, compared with $65,000 for all of last year. Among the most 'popular' American imports are tarantulas, rattlesnakes and scorpions.

AVA's Mr Bobby Lee, who investigates animal smuggling cases and makes sure that the related laws are enforced, explained why the smugglers choose these animals: 'They are hardy creatures and can survive for days without food and water, even in a cramped cargo box.'

From India come thousands of star tortoises, which are packed into cotton bags and stuffed into boxes to be smuggled into Singapore.

Rare birds such as the Moluccan cockatoos, a highly endangered species, are among the most common animals smuggled in from Indonesia.

Many of the animals smuggled in are shipped out again. The star tortoises from India, for example, would be fed, then stuffed again into boxes and sent to the US.

But there is a local market for exotic animals. Mr Lee said some Singaporeans will pay up to $100 for a tiny scorpion or $1,000 for a cockatoo.

But the noose is tightening around the traders and those who help them. The AVA says several of these operators working for the syndicates have been arrested and jailed.

It is pushing for jail terms - on top of heavy fines - not just for the smugglers, but also for transport providers, such as the boat captains who bring in the animals.

In 2000, a 23-year-old man who arrived at Changi Airport with 26 pythons and 160 turtles stuffed in his suitcase got away with a $10,000 fine. He claimed he did not know what the suitcase held.

But just last Monday, two Indonesian men were each fined $5,000 and jailed for two months for smuggling in 35 rare birds by boat from Batam on April 26.

'Ignorance will not be accepted as an excuse any more,' said Mr Lee. AVA updates immigration officers on what to look out for, he said.

The bird smugglers from Indonesia, for example, were arrested at the Pasir Panjang Wharf by immigration officers who got suspicious when they saw the men with computer boxes that had holes.

AVA also works closely with US Customs and the US Fish and Wildlife Services. This was how it traced the syndicates in Singapore.

Their US counterparts found the star tortoises in air parcels. From the tip-off, AVA traced the parcels to the same Singapore addresses.

The AVA believes animal trafficking will lose its appeal when traffickers are made to pay to have the smuggled animals returned to the countries they came from.

Any person who commits an offence under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act can be fined up to $5,000 or jailed for up to 12 months, or both.

If you know of anyone keeping wild or endangered animals, call the AVA on 6227-0670.