Italian authorities have intercepted a major illegal bird trafficking operation destined for Malta, seizing more than 2,600 protected wild birds in a vehicle at the port of Pozzallo, in the province of Ragusa, Italian media report.
The vehicle’s driver, a Maltese national, has been charged with theft, receiving stolen goods, animal abandonment, and unlawful possession of protected wildlife.
The Guardia di Finanza and the Customs Agency discovered 2,687 birds – including goldfinches (cardellini), greenfinches (verdoni), and chaffinches (fringuelli) – crammed into cages and packed inside cardboard boxes during customs checks.
The birds were being transported in what officials described as “precarious hygienic conditions,” posing potential risks to public health.
Authorities believe the birds were intended for Malta’s illegal wildlife market.
Following authorisation from the local prosecutor’s office and a veterinary assessment by the ASP (Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale), the birds were released into the protected wildlife area of Pantano Cuba-Longarini, near Ispica.
#GdiF #Ragusa, #ROAN #Palermo e #ADM: traffico illegale di specie protette. Intercettati presso il porto di Pozzallo oltre 2.687 volatili appartenenti a diverse specie della fauna selvatica e destinati al mercato maltese.
— Guardia di Finanza (@GDF) August 14, 2025