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Date Published: 30/05/2022

ARCHIVED - Passenger caught with dozens of live turtles and crayfish in his hand luggage at Alicante Airport

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The rescued animals have been taken to Alicante's Santa Faz Wildlife Recovery Centre

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Passenger caught with dozens of live turtles and crayfish in his hand luggage at Alicante Airport

A 64-year-old man faces up to two years in prison after security at Alicante-Elche Airport discovered 46 live turtles and 37 crayfish in his hand luggage as he was about to board a flight to Denmark.

The animals were found "wrapped in plastic to prevent them from moving and tucked away inside a small holdall", which, according to the Guardia Civil, "would have caused them to suffocate in a short space of time".

The alleged animal trafficker was nabbed at an airport checkpoint in the departures area on May 11 after being asked to open his luggage as part of routine airport checks.

Given the fact the turtles and crabs are protected species, officers called in colleagues from the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA), to identify the specimens.

The Tax and Border Analysis and Investigation Unit at Alicante Airport has opened an investigation into the 64-year-old man who has been charged with an alleged offence of illegal trafficking of protected species and animal abuse.

Animal mistreatment carries a maximum prison sentence of between three and 12 months, and if found guilty of illegal trafficking, the suspect faces up to two years in prison.

The case has been handed over to Elche Magistrates' Court and the rescued turtles and crayfish have been taken to Alicante's Santa Faz Wildlife Recovery Centre.

Now read: End of subsidies for wild animal circuses in Spain

Image: Guardia Civil

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