Bird egg smugger complains about toilet facilities in Brazilian jails

A notorious bird smuggler dubbed the ‘Pablo Escobar of Eggs’ may escape extradition unless Brazilian authorities promise him rare ‘life-prolonging’ treatment for terminal cancer, a court heard.

Jeffrey Lendrum, 59, is wanted in Brazil after trying to traffic four peregrine falcon eggs to South Africa.

He stole the endangered albino species from Patagonia and was jailed for four-and-a-half years in October 2015 but skipped bail and promptly fled the country.

Brazilian prosecutors are seeking his extradition so that he can serve his sentence.

In the latest twist in the saga, Lendrum’s lawyers have argued that ‘sanitation’ and ‘disease’ issues in Brazilian prisons pose a risk to the fugitive.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard the smuggler is battling terminal prostate cancer for which he requires chemotherapy.

Defence barrister Florence Iveson said today (thurs) that extradition should be denied if Brazil fails to guarantee rare drug treatment for Lendrum.

Lendrum was jailed for 37 months in January 2019 after he was caught with £100,000 worth of hawk, eagle, and vulture eggs strapped to his body at Heathrow Airport.

He claimed he brought the eggs into the country to protect the birds because their natural habitat was being destroyed.

Back in 2010 he was jailed for 30 months after he was caught trying to board a flight to Dubai with 14 falcon eggs taped to his stomach.

The joint Zimbabwe-Irish passport holder has always insisted that he was motivated by compassion and once told author Joshua Hammer: ‘The whole media has portrayed me as the Pablo Escobar of the falcon-egg trade.’

Lendrum, a former member of the Rhodesian SAS, was absent from the dock today (thurs) as District Judge Sam Goozee ordered an oncologist report outlining Lendrum’s needs ahead of a full hearing.

Ms Iveson said: ‘There is another option rather than going to full hearing in this case which may or may not seem like an attractive option to you sir but the Chief Magistrate earlier in proceedings when it appeared clear that prison conditions, assurances, were not going to be suitable, the Chief Magistrate set effectively a guillotine – an amount of time in which the Brazilian government could provide information which would satisfy her and in the event of which she would discharge Mr Lendrum.

‘They came back with an improved assurance which we now seek to challenge. Sir this is a case which you might think represents something at the very top end of a section 25 argument.

‘What we’re looking at is an individual who has a terminal condition and you may be able to say you will not in the absence of evidence that he would be getting the lifesaving – or life-prolonging- treatment that he requires.

‘The downside of that of course is that if you were to set a guillotine which Brazil were ot able to comply with there may be the danger of them coming back and Mr Lendrum being arrested again.’

Ms Iveson added: ‘There are issues with sanitation from Brazilian prisons, there are issues with diseases.

‘He will require a particular drug for example which I understand is not widely available. Brazil can indicate whether that will be available to him in custody while in Brazil.

‘He will need chemotherapy.’

The judge fixed a date for 23 December by which Brazil must serve a response to evidence put forward on Lendrum’s behalf.

Lendrum remains on bail on the condition he lives and sleeps at Oakhill Road, Putney, observes an electronically monitored curfew, and does not go outside of the M25.

His passport will remain seized, and he must not apply for travel documentation or enter any travel hub, including airports.

His extradition hearing was adjourned until 18 January.
ends