Prohibited Plant Trading
NSW Crime Stoppers, in collaboration with Local Land Services and NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), has developed a campaign to appeal to the community to report the illegal trade of prickly pear cacti.
Prickly pears are fleshy-stemmed cacti with sharp spines or barbs. They all belong to the Austrocylindropuntia, Cylindropuntia and Opuntia genuses or genera of plants. There are over 27 different species in Australia. It’s a crime to sell or swap them in NSW. The campaign will target species that are commonly and illegally traded:
- blind cactus,
- Eve’s needle cactus, and
- smooth tree pear.
