(CNN) -
A buyer learned a costly lesson when customs officials destroyed her purse Australia alligator US $ 19,000 because he entered the country without proper import license.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) seized the Saint Laurent bag, purchased online at a boutique in France, from a cargo depot in Perth, Western Australia, in January.
The buyer had spent AU $ 26,313 on the bag, according to the Australian government.
While crocodile products can enter the country, their access is controlled by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to ensure that they are not linked to the illegal wildlife trade.
Although the buyer had obtained an export license from Europe, it did not have a CITES import permit for Australia, the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment said in a statement.
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As a result, the department said, it confiscated the purse.
However, it decided not to take any further action against the buyer.
Speaking about the incident, Environment Minister Sussan Ley warned importers that they must have the correct permits to enter certain products into the country.
"We all need to be aware of what we buy online, as restricting trade in animal products is crucial for the long-term survival of endangered species," Ley said, adding that Australia closely monitors what goes in and out. from the country.
Jason Wood, the deputy minister for Customs, Community Security and Multicultural Affairs, said the country is looking for illegally imported items, including "fashion accessories, tourist trinkets, furs, taxidermy animals and ivory."
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A Canadian gray wolf fur is among the items recently seized by ABF officers in Perth.
In Australia, wildlife trade offenses are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of AU $ 222,000.