The intervention occurred during a routine security checkpoint established at dawn at one of the city's access points. Officers detected a vehicle whose occupants attempted evasive maneuvers upon noticing the police presence, which raised suspicions and led to their interception.
Inside the car, police found 12 large cages distributed between the back seats and the trunk. Hundreds of goldfinch specimens were crammed into them in unsanitary conditions, also coexisting with numerous already deceased birds.
“"National and international legislation prohibits the capture, possession, and trade of protected wild birds without authorization, and emphasizes that this type of illegal trafficking causes serious harm to wildlife."
According to information provided by the detainees, the birds had been captured in the Murcian town of Lorca and their final destination was France, where they were allegedly to be illicitly commercialized. A subsequent count confirmed the existence of about 400 live specimens and 39 dead birds.
Officers believe the animals had been captured a few days before the intervention, during the breeding season, which would exacerbate the damage caused to the species. It was also noted that they were being fed common sunflower seeds, a seed that, according to investigators, poachers often use to attract and concentrate birds before capturing them with nets.
After the intervention, the goldfinches were temporarily held at the Orihuela City Council Animal Protection Center until their transfer to the Santa Faz bird recovery center in Alicante. One of the detainees had 1,765 euros in cash seized, an amount that the Police are investigating as it could come from the illegal sale of wild birds. Both arrested individuals will be brought before the duty investigating court in Orihuela.
