A joint operation by Moroccan and Spanish police led to the arrest of 28 people suspected of trafficking in endangered wild birds and the seizure of about 300 exotic birds exported from southern Spain to North Africa. The investigation on the criminal activity, conducted by Spanish police in collaboration with the Moroccan police, led to the arrest of 28 bird traffickers and the recovery of 280 endangered birds, valued at over €1 million. Operatives involved in the bird trafficking network used forged documents to sell birds to North African buyers, in particular Moroccans. The network also used a fabricated online business that would generate sales and receive payments, but never deliver the birds. All of the birds the police recovered are endangered species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Source: The North Africa Journal July 23, 2020 16:07 UTC