A man caught on camera allegedly posting two rare lizards in the mail to Hong Kong has been arrested during a police raid in Melbourne.

The package was intercepted at Melbourne Airport in January and found to contain an albino blue tongue and a shingleback lizard which were taped, stuffed in a sock and put in the bottom of a rice cooker.

In the video above, Indonesian villagers displaced in plan to save Komodo dragon

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

A 35-year-old man was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into an illegal wildlife smuggling ring, which had resulted in three arrests in March.

The arrests come after a dozen lizards were found during raids in Narre Warren, Oakleigh and Clayton.

A 27-year-old Chatswood man was arrested in Sydney earlier this month as part of the same investigation, and he faces 16 charges of attempting to smuggle wildlife to Hong Kong.

Lizards rescued

More than 150 lizards were intercepted at Melbourne Airport between June 2018 and February 2019, with a total value estimated at more than $550,000.

The lizards were allegedly found stuffed into toys, electronics and chip packets.

The rescued animals have been taken to zoos or sanctuaries.

Six had to be euthanised because of their poor condition.

"These arrests support our continued focus on wildlife crime and reflect the seriousness and the cruelty of smuggling live wildlife", Chief Conservation Regulator Kate Gavens said.

More on www.20304050.best

• Baby goats bludgeoned to death in horrific undercover footage on Victorian dairy farm
• Melbourne's hot-growth suburbs that buyers should target: John McGrath report
• Reservoir grandfather's leg snapped as he tried to stop alleged burglars

The men arrested could face between 12 and 24 months jail, and penalties of up to $41,000.

Ms Gaven reiterated that taking, keeping, and trading unlawfully-obtained wildlife is a serious offence.

Three people are still at large in relation to the trafficking operation.