A Hong Kong couple has been arrested in Perth for attempting to smuggle wildlife out of Australia concealed in teddy bears.

In a joint operation between Customs and the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), officers raided a home in the southern Perth suburb of St James on Wednesday night.

They seized 31 lizards in the raid - 24 bobtails, six crevice skinks and one sand swimmer skink - along with several soft toys, packaging and postage material.

Rick Dawson, a senior wildlife investigator with the DEC says bobtail lizards can fetch up to $7,500 on the Asian black market.

"While common in Western Australia, these lizards are highly sought after in Asia because they are easy to care for, attractive, and exotic," he said.

"In some instances the reptiles' eyes had been taped up, and the cold and cramped conditions they would have had to endure on a long journey without food or water in a cargo hold is abhorrent."

Last night's seizure was the result of a 12-week investigation into the alleged wildlife smugglers.

The 27-year-old man and 30-year-old woman were being monitored by officials after allegedly making several attempts to post teddy bears containing lizards overseas.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion has congratulated the authorities for the arrest, describing it as a significant bust.

"Wildlife smuggling is not only illegal, it is cruel and poses a risk to the state's native plants and animals, including rare or threatened species," he said.

"The success of this operation sends a strong warning to people that if you attempt to smuggle wildlife out of Western Australia, the chances of getting caught are very good indeed."

The maximum penalty for illegally importing and possessing wildlife under WA's Wildlife Conservation Act is $4,000 and smugglers can face up to 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $110,000 under environmental legislation.