A series of written questions from British MPs about the trapping of grapevines in the area of the British bases was answered by the Undersecretary of Defense of the British Government Mark Lancaster.
As he noted, tackling the illegal practice is "one of the top priorities" of the British Base Administration.
"The police of the areas of the dominant bases use all legal means to target the people involved in the trapping of birds. "Last year, the base administration prosecuted 78 people," said the British Undersecretary of Defense, answering a question from MP Michelle Donnelan.
He added that the Base Administration carried out a total of 39 large net removal operations last year, operations that will continue with the use of drones.
Mr Lancaster also referred to the recent fines imposed on 14 poachers by the court in Dhekelia and suspended sentences of six of them.
In additional questions from MPs Daitre Brock and Madeleine Moon, the Undersecretary of Defense added that measures are being taken to reduce the acacias used by poachers - either by cutting them down or by dismantling their irrigation pipelines.
Source: KYPE
