Joint operation of the Tax Agency and the National Police

• Two inspections have been carried out in establishments where it was detected that animals and remains of species listed as protected according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) were being sold.
• During the investigation, three people have been arrested as alleged responsible for illegally introducing the animals into Spain for later sale.

May 22, 2023.- Customs Surveillance officials of the Tax Agency, in a joint operation with agents of the National Police, have arrested three people, two men and a woman, as alleged perpetrators of crimes of smuggling and against flora and fauna. These people were allegedly responsible for the illegal introduction into Spanish territory of animals of protected species and their remains, which were subsequently sold to be used in Santeria rituals.

Beginning of the investigation

The investigation began in 2021, when National Police officers learned that two establishments on the island of Tenerife, one in Arona and the other in San Cristóbal de la Laguna, were selling animals of protected species and their remains for use in Santeria rites.

In order to try to determine the route of introduction of the animals into the island, the Customs Surveillance Operational Unit of the Tenerife Tax Agency carried out a detailed analysis of postal packages. Following these investigations, it was concluded that most of these animals were being introduced into the suitcases of several passengers in an attempt to avoid existing parcel controls.

The products included bats, birds of Cuban origin, the heads of dogs, wolves, monkeys, cobras and crocodiles, as well as elephant ivory, tiger tusks, gorilla teeth and African toads.

Those responsible for commercial establishments arrested

During inspections carried out at the establishments, the National Police seized live domestic animals intended for ritual practices, as well as remains of various protected animals; hippopotamus, lion, hyena, crocodile, chameleon or seahorse.

Following a technical analysis of the animals, it was confirmed that they were included in the CITES catalogue, which confirmed the researchers' hypotheses and the alleged authorship of the crimes by those responsible for the establishments.

Finally, in a device that included the participation of Customs Surveillance officials from the Tax Agency and agents from the General Information Commission, investigators arrested three people on the island of Tenerife as alleged perpetrators of crimes of smuggling and against fauna and flora. The specialists in charge of these investigations have the email address sectasdestructivas@policia.es enabled so that any citizen can report related facts, guaranteeing, at all times, anonymity and confidentiality.