Maltese hunters who have taken tours in Argentina boast of their “unforgettable experiences”. Photo: Facebook

The three Maltese hunters who had been held in Argentina for two months have now returned to Malta, the Times of Malta is informed.

However, it is not yet known whether these hunters – who had been stopped at Buenos Aires airport after protected birds were discovered in their suitcases – have been convicted of any illegalities.

Sources close to the Foreign Ministry confirmed that Colin Attard, Silvan Abela and Manuel Abela this week returned to Malta following the assistance of Malta’s consul in the Argentinian capital.

“The issue for the Foreign Office is now closed as through our assistance we have managed to get the three Maltese nationals back,” an official said.

Asked whether judicial procedures against them were concluded and if they had been convicted, the official said: “We are not in a position to give that sort of information as we consider this to be a private matter concerning the three individuals.”

Last month, the Times of Malta revealed that the three hunters were arrested in Argentina and were facing criminal procedures in court over several illegal hunting activities in the country.

Sources close to the Foreign Ministry confirmed Colin Attard, Silvan Abela and Manuel Abela returned to Malta following the assistance of Malta’s consul

The Argentinean authorities had found a number of protected birds in their suitcases as they were about to return to Malta.

The men, who formed part of a larger group, were arrested and banned from leaving the country, with their passports being confiscated. A Foreign Ministry spokesman had confirmed their detention and said they were undergoing judicial procedures in connection with illegal hunting.

The arrested hunters were travelling with a fellow hunter from Kirkop, who was not held at the airport and decided to return to Malta despite the arrest of the others. They had been under his watch, as he was the group’s leader.

The three hunters returned to Malta earlier this week after spending more than two months in Argentina.

It is estimated that around 50 Maltese travel to Argentina every year on hunting tours. Although such trips are normally very expensive due to high travel costs, many Maltese hunters are lured to the South American country where birds are abundant and rules are lax.

In various Facebook posts, Maltese hunters who have taken one of these tours, boast of their “unforgettable experiences”.

“In just two hours, Peter [a Maltese hunter in Argentina] managed to shoot 1,005 doves,” one hunter wrote. Another hunter described his experience and the number of birds he shot as “unbelievable”.