Four men were fined over Lm12,000 for failing to declare thousands of liri worth of bird skins of restricted species they imported from Egypt.

Mario Ellul, George Galea, Joseph Grech and Godwin Zahra had just arrived in Malta by air on April 12, 2001 and passed through the green channel when Customs officers found they had birds or bird skins in their luggage.

During a Customs sitting, presided over by Magistrate Michael Mallia, all four were found guilty illegally importing the birds, some of which were protected species, evading tax and breaching Customs regulations.

Mr Ellul was fined Lm3,387 for failing to declare five long-eared owls. Although two owls were still alive, three had died during the trip. The dead owls were worth Lm60 and the other two Lm120.

Mr Ellul was also found guilty of acting as a taxidermist without a licence and of relapsing.

Mr Galea was fined Lm1,900 for illegally importing five bird skins worth Lm200. These were the skins of three whiskered terns, a black kite and a gray horn bill.

Mr Grech was fined Lm4,181 for importing 69 bird skins worth Lm3,180. The birds' species included various types of owls, terns and bee-eaters.

Finally, Mr Zahra was fined Lm2,542 for importing 13 skins worth Lm650. These included vultures and eagles.

Police Inspectors Alex Miruzzi and Kevin Borg prosecuted.