Two undercover operations conducted by BirdLife have shown that illegal trade in wild birds is rampant in Malta.

The organisation said that video footage of this illegal trade recorded by BirdLife was passed on to the Administrative Law Enforcement and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, who carried out a joint operation at the bird market in Valletta last Sunday.

Birdlife said it had been informed by the police that several dealers illegally selling wild caught birds were apprehended.

Wild birds that were filmed being sold openly by different traders included wild caught linnets, greenfinches, serin and chaffinches.

BirdLife said the birds could have originated from local trappers or from traders illegally bringing the birds in from neighbouring countries.

Campaigns co-ordinator Geoffrey Saliba applauded the swift action by the police in acting on the reports.

He said: “While it is vital that these individuals are apprehended, it is equally important that they are dealt with seriously in the courts. We know that the bird market in Valletta has been raided several times in the past, but these traders still feel comfortable openly breaking the law.

“It is pointless apprehending people breaking the law unless they are given substantial fines which would act as a real deterrent to them in the future.”