A number of men were questioned by the police today after they were caught by Committee Against Bird Slaughter volunteers selling greenfinches in Rabat, some 50 metres from the police station, the organisation said.

A CABS team, disguised as tourists, visited the place this morning and witnessed how the birds were offered for sale for between €30 and €100 each.

“We saw about 20 cages with greenfinches placed on a wall and many people standing around. We asked one of the men what he was doing and he answered that he is selling the birds,” volunteer Jonathan Blair said.

“When we saw that most of the birds had no rings we alerted the police,” he said.

 A joint army and police patrol, together with a Mepa official arrived on scene within 20 minutes. The birds and their owners were brought to the Rabat police station where the men were questioned.

According to Maltese law it is illegal to sell finches without closed rings, which proved they were bred in captivity.

CABS said it provided the police with the particulars of four of its volunteers who could testify that the birds were offered for sale.

The organisation announced that it would upload photos and video footage which showed the unringed birds as well as one of the trappers confirming that he was selling them.

“It is safe to assume that the birds have either been caught illegally in Malta or smuggled into the country,” press officer Axel Hirschfeld said.

According to CABS, illegal trade of wild-caught finches is big business in Malta with an estimated volume of several hundred thousand euros per year.

“This has nothing to do with tradition, it is about making money,” Mr Hirschfeld said.

CABS also said that it reported more than 20 bird trappers illegally operating in March and April this year. Most were targetting greenfinches.