Venezuela
Launches Military Operation Against Drug
Trafficking in Border With Colombia
Spain Delivers
to Venezuela Second Military Vessel
Morales Wants Coca Off
UN Drug List
Argentina,
Russia Sign Visa Abolition Agreement
Brazilian
Police Arrest 72 Animal Traffickers
Brazilian
Police Arrest 72 Animal Traffickers
Rio de Janeiro - Brazilian federal police on
Wednesday arrested 72 people suspected of
taking part in an animal smuggling gang.
A total of 102 arrest warrants were issued
in "Operation Oxossi" conducted in nine
states, in which 450 federal police agents
were involved, police said.
Most of the arrested had been accused of
environmental crimes before, the police
said. Among the arrested were five
policemen, who not only participated in the
animal smuggling but covered the crime.
The police were still looking for the other
30 suspects, including three Portuguese
citizens, a Swiss and three Czechs.
The police said that the gang traded about
500,000 animals illegally per year. The
gang's profit was estimated at 20 million
reais (8.5 million U.S. dollars).
The most commonly trafficked animals were
birds, snakes, jaguars and monkeys.
According to the police, the animals were
captured in forest areas in Brazil's
southern, southeastern and northeastern
regions and transported to Rio. In Rio, they
were either sold in fairs in the city or
sent to European countries, where they could
be sold for a very high price.
Investigations were started in January 2008.
Since then, about 3,500 wild animals were
confiscated in smaller operations.
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