No New Zealanders are believed to have been involved in the theft of 16 jewelled geckos from the Otago Peninsula last week.
A source close to the investigation told the Otago Daily Times there "was not local content to this".
He would not say what this view was based on, but it applied to both last week's case and another earlier case.
Last week, 55-year-old German Manfred Bachmann pleaded guilty to a Wildlife Act charge of possessing 16 geckos.
Two other men have yet to plead to similar charges.
And in January, 58-year-old German Hans Kubus was jailed for 14 weeks and fined $5000 after being caught with 24 geckos and 20 skinks.
"I'm talking specifically about these two groups . . .
"I'm saying there is no New Zealand content involved with these two groups."
However, he considered there was a possibility New Zealanders who had not yet come to the attention of authorities were exporting reptiles.
"That could well be happening."
Bachmann and the two other men have been remanded to appear in the Christchurch District Court on March 3.
The 16 geckos are estimated to be worth $192,000 to collectors in Europe.
