In Spain, law enforcement officers detained a couple who were part of an international criminal organization involved in the illegal sale of exotic animals. Through the Internet, they sold white tigers, panthers, hyenas and cougars, some of which were imported from Ukraine. About this reported Ministry of the Interior of Spain.
In the city of Manacor, the police found two people, who during the search found 19 representatives of rare species of the cat family, including servals and caracals. According to the police, most of the animals put up for sale came from Ukraine. They were brought to the territory of the European Union through the Belarusian-Polish border, using forged documents for transportation.
The investigation established that the detainees were not only engaged in selling, but also in breeding exotic animals, in particular by crossing them with domestic cats. At the same time, they did not have the appropriate permits. On social networks, the couple posted offers to buy a white tiger, a smoky panther, a Eurasian lynx, a hyena, a black leopard and a puma.
Prices for animals were high: for example, a smoky panther was sold for 60,000 euros, purebred caracals and servals for more than 8,000 euros, and hybrids with domestic cats cost about 18,000.
The police emphasized that these species require special conditions of keeping and can pose a danger due to their aggressive behavior. All of these animals are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Ukraine has been a party to this agreement since 1999.
The detainees have been charged with crimes against the animal world, smuggling, forgery of documents and participation in organized crime. Investigators also suspect that employees of transport companies and veterinary workers were involved in the activities of the network.
