Mġarr was a buzz of activity on Tuesday as an “invasion” of police cars descended on the home of 37-year-old Jason Muscat, the man suspected of smuggling over 400 protected bird skins.
Mr Muscat was stopped at the airport on July 23 and allegedly found to be carrying 411 protected bird skins originating from Argentina. The skins were apparently packed into three suitcases.
The seized consignment was made up of grebes, swans, ducks, eagles, hawks, falcons, storks, flamingos, ibises, crakes, gulls, owls and passerines. At least 120 species are internationally protected by CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Suspect skins are being imported into Malta after birds are shot in Argentina by Maltese hunters
The ongoing investigation into the case led to the discovery of a stuffed bird collection of about 575 specimens from five continents at Mr Muscat’s home.
A total of 236 specimens were subsequently seized, belonging to species whose possession was illegal and whose importation was restricted, the Department of Information said.
Mr Muscat was subjected to a similar inspection in 2004, during which over 300 birds were examined and eight protected birds seized.
He was subsequently charged in court and found guilty of illegal possession. The courts had ordered the confiscation of the birds and fined him €230.
The birds allegedly found in Mr Muscat’s home this week included several species that are predominantly found in South America, Australia and Asia. Other protected birds are thought to have included European species.
Sources said the authorities suspect skins are being imported in Malta after birds are shot in Argentina by Maltese hunters.
In June last year, three Maltese nationals were detained at Linate airport, Milan, after a hunting trip in Argentina. Their luggage was found to contain some 180 dead protected birds.
Skins are imported instead of stuffed birds so that larger quantities can be fitted into a suitcase. Once the birds’ muscles and intestines are removed, the skin is salted for preservation and the bird is stuffed on arrival.
On the same day as the find at the airport, Magistrate Aaron Bugeja upheld a request by the hunters’ federation, FKNK, for the police to take criminal action against six Birdlife activists who posed in a photo with dead protected birds to condemn the slaughter.
Meanwhile, hunting offences continue despite the closed season. Last Saturday, two hunters were caught in possession of two oystercatchers, protected birds killed from a speedboat discovered in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.
Both hunters, Karl Sant and Cliff Borg, are relapsers. Mr Borg, 31 of Mosta, is being charged in court with shooting a protected flamingo in Salina Bay in June last year.