Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that 312 protected Vinebacks were seized at roadblocks in October after officers found them hidden in vehicles during three separate checks.
The vehicles and birds were seized by customs officials and the owners were immediately arrested by BB police, charged and will appear in court soon.
The Customs and Immigration Department and the BB police work closely together to ensure that birds are not smuggled through roadblocks and according to Mark Hartley, who heads the Department of Customs in the Dekelia area, “illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest illegal trade in the world".
He explained: “We are committed to detecting any attempts to illegally import protected species through the Green Line. With the current migration season of the Wrens, the BB Customs Department has been operationally deployed to intercept any movements of these protected birds crossing the BB boundaries.
“The detection of these vultures underlines our commitment to tackling wildlife crime, which has devastating environmental impacts. Our actions are an integral part of tackling a global issue and protecting endangered species. My operatives continue their essential work at roadblocks to stamp out this ruthless and exploitative trade."
The seizures followed confirmation that BB police efforts to combat illegal bird trapping continued apace, with several arrests already made in October during operations carried out by the dedicated Community Action Team (CAT).
As the season for the grebe migration draws to a close, officers are confident that the CAT team's efforts will have proved highly successful when the statistics are released in November.
This year, BB Police were able to achieve a record number of dedicated officers for the operations and this was further enhanced with military support where needed.
Senior Constable Fanos Christodoulou, who leads the 10-strong CAT team, explained why his officers were able to make such an impact this year.
“The arrests and seizures, not just in October, but since the season started, show that we are fully committed to combating this illegal activity.
“We have been able to call in up to 10 members of the military to assist us in our operations when working on military ground and in addition, we have worked very closely with Bird Life Cyprus and CABS to combat bird trapping.
“We have continued to invest in technology, with drones, closed circuit surveillance and other modern means of detection.
"This is a serious crime and it will continue to be dealt with with everything at our disposal."
The Ampelopouli migration season is expected to end in early November, when the official focus will turn to the illegal poaching of Chichlos.
