185 baby turtles were found in a suitcase at the Galapagos Ecological Airport, located on Baltra Island. The final destination of the shipment was the city of Guayaquil.
The turtles were detected thanks to the X-ray system, the 185 species were wrapped in plastic, for which, 10 of them died. These animals, according to experts, are only 3 months old and their shell is very weak, therefore, it is not possible to determine their origin.
This Monday, March 29, 2021, the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the policeman Nixon Alejandro P. D. will be prosecuted for his alleged authorship in the failed shipment of these animals. The accused will be charged with crimes against flora and fauna, which is punishable by up to 3 years in prison.
Marcelo Mata, Minister of the Environment, rejected this type of violence against wildlife and against the heritage of Ecuadorians. In addition, he promised that those responsible will be “punished with all rigor in accordance with current regulations.”
The penalties for those who extract wildlife from their place of origin range from 3 years in prison and fines of up to USD 4,000. The trafficking of species has become a common practice, experts estimate that a year it moves between USD 10 000 to 26 000 million.
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