Australia's unique reptiles are being stuffed into socks, hidden inside boots and jammed into plastic containers to get them out of the country unseen as big money is made in the illegal wildlife trade.

Experts hope stiffer fines and longer jail sentences will help curb the growing industry, which is being blamed for driving species to extinction.

Unique and rare Australian animals remain under threat, with collectors worldwide paying top dollar to have them smuggled across borders.

A briefing on wildlife crime has been conducted at the University of Adelaide to coincide with this weekend's focus on the International Day for the Prevention of and Fight Against All Forms of Transnational Organised Crime.

The uni's research hub director, Professor Phill Cassey, says a recent estimate sho

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