PR - Smugglers Kill Over 113 Tropical Birds at Sea, 3 May 2024

[Warwick1991]

On May 3, 2024, about 30 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico, the US Coast Guard intercepted a suspicious vessel. As the Coast Guard approached, they observed the crew of the suspicious vessel throwing wood crates overboard. These turned out to be crates of live tropical birds. Several crates with drowned birds were recovered by the Coast Guard. Those aboard were arrested and indicted by a Federal Grand jury for smuggling wildlife from the US and violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits trade in illegally obtained wildlife. The smugglers were from the Dominican Republic and were on their way back to that country, intending to sell the tropical birds.

Terrible animal cruelty....

4 Dominican men indicted for smuggling wildlife

cbs12.com

https://www.justice.gov/usao-pr/pr/four-individuals-indicted-smuggling-tropical-bird-species-united-states-dominican

 

[Warwick1991]

An update on this case of animal cruelty. The perpetrators, who were smuggling birds from Puerto Rico, have been sentenced. The perpetrators drowned the birds as their boat was intercepted by the US Coast Guard. Rare and beautiful red-crowned parrots were killed, along with other protected birds.

Dominican nationals sentenced for smuggling 113 tropical birds from Puerto Rico

The final two of four Dominican nationals have been sentenced for their roles in smuggling tropical birds from the United States on Monday.

cbs12.com