Endangered bird species seized; four arrested

Environment police looking after the confiscated birds. As part of efforts exerted by security agencies to combat all kinds of crimes, police officers manning the northern roads affiliated to the Rescue Police Department, arrested four people for the possession of 29 endangered birds known as ‘Houbara Bustard’.

In a press statement, the Interior Ministry disclosed the birds, which are mentioned in the CITES International Convention, were seized by the Environmental Police Department, and the offenders were referred to the concerned authorities, where one of the confessed to be trading in endangered birds.

The Environmental Police Department affirmed that Article 100 of Environmental Protection Act (EPA) number 42/2014, amended by law number 99/2015, “prohibits collecting, harming, possessing or transporting any land or marine fungal organism whether dead or alive or even tampering with young ones or nests or eggs of the organisms”.