ALE officers uncover massive contraband of finches

Over 750 songbirds were discovered by members of the Administrative and Law Enforcement as two men, separately, smuggled the birds to Malta via catamaran.

The recent decision by the Muscat administration to ignore the ban on trapping and introduce trapping in Malta has led to numerous reports of smuggling of songbirds from Sicily.

The discovery was made at the port last night after the ALE officers searched two cars, one belonging to a 69-year-old man, of Nadur, Gozo, and the other to 39-year-old from Qrendi.

The elderly man was found to be in possession of 50 non-ringed birds whilst the 39-year-old had over 700 birds, belonging to the seven different species, packed in small cardboard boxes placed inside vegetable crates.

Sources said the massive contraband of finches yields thousands in cash to the suppliers. A hawfinch, bought in Sicily for €10 or €20, can easily fetch €150 in Malta.

None of the illegally traded birds obviously carry a ring, which is an obligation by law, but are then ringed by their new owner. Several reports have reached MaltaToday of trappers ringing illegally smuggled birds to give the impression they have been bred in captivity or else trapped.

Inspector Jurgen Vella is investigating.

Malta's controversial reopening of a finch trapping season is being contested by the European Commission, which has sent the Maltese government a letter of formal notice to refrain the taking of birds.

But the Maltese government is defending its decision, saying it is in disagreement with the Commission’s interpretation of the application of derogation under Article 9(1)(c) of the EU Birds Directive, which would permit, under strictly supervised conditions, the live-capture of seven species of finches.