Maltese Man Caught Smuggling 2,700 Birds Worth €400,000
A Maltese man has been intercepted by Sicilian authorities while attempting to smuggle nearly 2,700 protected birds into Malta, with an estimated market value of €400,000
The man was stopped at the port of Pozzallo as he tried to board a ferry. Inside a refrigerated container, officials discovered goldfinches, greenfinches and chaffinches packed in cardboard boxes at −2°C.
Vets reported that the poor sanitary conditions drastically reduced the birds’ lifespan to around two months. Authorities also warned that the transport conditions posed potential risks to public health.
All of the recovered birds were released into the Pantano Cuba-Longarini nature reserve in Granelli.
The man is now facing multiple charges, including theft, receiving stolen goods, abandonment of animals, and the illegal capture and possession of protected species.
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Credit: Guardia di Finanza