Police seize hundreds of protected birds' skins

Prompt action by Customs officials and police yesterday morning led to the arrest of three men in connection with the smuggling of hundreds of skins of protected bird species worth more than Lm15,000, police said.

Police sources said two men, a 45-year old from Zabbar and an 18-year old from Kirkop, were found to be carrying over 300 birds after they had landed on a flight from Egypt at 5 a.m.

Customs officials suspected something irregular in the luggage being carried by one of the men which on inspection yielded several protected birds.

Two other pieces of luggage which remained unclaimed were also found packed with protected birds.

The men did not offer any resistance.

Though Egypt is renowned as one of the most popular destinations for Maltese hunters, the birds in question are protected in both countries.

Following further investigations connected with the same case, the police arrested another man in raids at other residences. Various other protected species of bird, as well as shotguns and several kilogrammes of thick lead shot were seized.

In a separate operation yesterday, members of the Administrative Law Enforcement apprehended three people that were out hunting at sea in the Bahar ic-Caghaq area.

The hunters' shotguns were confiscated.

The police said the ALE would continue investigating both cases.

Yesterday's was the second major haul carried out by Customs officials and police in the space of four days.

On Monday, a 26-year-old man from Fgura was arrested after he was found to be in possession of a number of protected animal skins, an airgun, and ammunition.

The police also found 20 species of stuffed birds after searching the man's home.

Birdlife president Joseph Mangion said that yesterday's haul was evidence of the extent of the bird smuggling problem.

"Illegal wildlife trade is one of the top illicit trades. People are willing to take any risk to carry it out," he said.

While thanking the ALE and Customs officials for their work, Mr Mangion said such cases demonstrated the need for an investigative team to deal with these matters.

"I am quite sure that there are huge consignments of birds smuggled from Egypt - and a number of them are not detected," he claimed.