Ecuadorian police arrested three Thai nationals accused of illegally smuggling 12 rare marine iguanas from the Galápagos Islands, intended for export to Asia. One iguana was found dead, and several others were injured from having their legs bound during transport.
Ecuador's Ministry of Energy and Environment revealed that police detained three Thai suspects on suspicion of involvement in an international wildlife trafficking ring. They attempted to smuggle 12 rare and endangered Galápagos marine iguanas out of the country.
The incident occurred on 19 May during a passenger baggage inspection at Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador's key port city. A specially trained canine, skilled in detecting wildlife trafficking, alerted authorities when sniffing a set of suitcases destined for Asia.
Upon opening the luggage, authorities encountered a distressing scene: the marine iguanas were tightly packed inside. One iguana was already deceased, while the remaining 11 were physically injured because their four legs had been tightly bound by the suspects throughout transport.
Recently, an Ecuadorian court ordered the three Thai suspects to be held in custody pending trial on charges of illegal trafficking of protected and endangered wildlife species. Under Ecuadorian law, this offense carries a maximum prison sentence of three years.
The Galápagos marine iguana is an endemic species found only in the Galápagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous tourist destination of Ecuador, located about 1,000 kilometers off the Pacific coast. Uniquely, it is the only iguana species worldwide capable of diving underwater to forage, able to hold its breath for up to 60 minutes.
Ecuadorian authorities are urgently expanding their investigation to trace the trafficking routes used to smuggle wildlife from the Galápagos Islands. They are also examining how the three Thai suspects managed to evade the strict security and inspection measures at the Galápagos airport.
/AFP