A true treasure of protected biodiversity illegally removed from nature and transformed into a clandestine detention center in the heart of the Etna province. The operation began in Trecastagni, where the soldiers of the Cites carabinieri unit of Catania, working side by side with the veterinary staff of the ASP of Gravina, carried out a targeted check aimed at combating the illicit trafficking of wildlife.
In the garden of a private home, the operators found themselves faced with 102 specimens of turtles belonging to the species Testudo hermanniof various sizes. This particular species of tortoise enjoys rigorous international protection sanctioned by the Cites Convention, as it is concretely threatened with extinction due to poaching, the destruction of natural habitats and the lucrative black market of exotic animals.
From capture in the wild to the lack of certificates and reports of receiving stolen goods
From the technical checks conducted on site it emerged that the adult specimens present in the garden had almost certainly been taken directly from their natural habitat and that only subsequently had they reproduced in captivity. The turtles were kept without any health documentation or administrative authorization, as they did not have the required Cites certificate which certifies the legitimacy of their origin and detention. The animals were immediately seized and entrusted to the custody of the Faunistic Hunting Division of Catania, while the owner of the property was referred to the judicial authority with the heavy accusation of receiving stolen goods, since protected wildlife constitutes by law an unavailable patrimony of the State.
From illegal turtles to aggravated theft of electricity in the building
The search and cross-checks carried out inside the private property reserved further unpleasant surprises for the police. In addition to the seizure of the reptiles, the military personnel have in fact ascertained the presence of an illegal connection to the public electricity grid, created by tampering with the meters to power the home at the community’s expense. Consequently, the owner of the house was hit with a second and very serious criminal complaint for the crime of aggravated theft of electricity.
