Two charged with bird smuggling after sea, land chase

Two men were yesterday charged with smuggling 168 protected tortoises and 4,200 birds, worth a total of Lm13,566, into Malta in wooded crates.

Magistrate Saviour Demicoli heard Police Inspector Michael Mallia explain how Publius Zammit and Jesmond Vella had been apprehended by soldiers following a chase at sea and on land last March.

Zammit, 36, of Msida and Vella, 28, of Qawra are pleading not guilty to illegally importing 4,126 greenfinches, 72 linnets and two long-legged Buzzards as well as 168 spur-thighed tortoises on March 14, 2004.

The two men are also pleading not guilty to failing to declare the birds and tortoises at Customs, evading Lm2,442 in VAT, assaulting and seriously injuring two soldiers, disobeying orders, conspiring to commit a crime and relapsing.

The police officer, prosecuting, explained how an army maritime patrol craft saw a boat, called Little China, sail into Xatt l-Ahmar in Gozo.

Members of the army trailed the boat because they suspected it was involved in smuggling activities. Despite several warnings the boat did not stop and the army gave chase.

When the boat berthed in Gnejna Bay, Zammit and Vella jumped on land and ran. Soldiers followed them and even fired warning shots, injuring Vella in the process.

Soldiers found 108 crates and two big boxes containing the birds and tortoises on the shore. Most of the birds were dead. The two men denied smuggling the species but, during a search in the boat, the soldiers found feathers and bird seeds.

On Wednesday another two men - Carmelo Borg, 56, of Zebbug, and Paul Borg, 47, of St Julians - were charged with trying to import 1,083 finches, of which 639 were already dead. The boat they were on was intercepted off Zonqor Point in Marsascala.

Dr Daniela Mangion and Dr Lesley Cuschieri appeared for Zammit and Vella.