Overview
- Four people are under investigation for alleged organized trafficking, animal crimes, fraud, falsification and contraband.
- Judicial files have been sent to the Ávila courts and the provincial environmental prosecutor for processing.
- Operation Suartx began in June 2023 after irregularities were detected on social media, with support from CITES, Tragsatec and national environmental agents.
- The animals, valued at about €85,000, include leopard tortoises, spur-thighed and Mediterranean tortoises, iguanas, geckos, tarantulas and Nile monitors.
- Authorities say most specimens lacked permits and came from irregular transfers across provinces such as Madrid, Badajoz, Ciudad Real, Valencia, Toledo, Huesca, Zaragoza and Seville, and reports note roughly 200 had died in earlier seizures and donations.