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Two people arrested for selling exotic animals online

In the municipality of Manacor (Mallorca), the Guardia Civil has apprehended two individuals and is currently investigating another for the sale of various exotic animal species through internet portals as part of Operation Kotach, which is being conducted in Valencia.

The agents have discovered a total of 19 feline family specimens during the search. Notable among these are a pure caracal, two pure servals, and 16 hybrid felines of varying degrees of hybridisation and species. In addition to over 40 animal passports from Russia, Belarus, and China, as well as two computers, three mobile phones, and two pen drives, a substantial quantity of documentation has been confiscated and is currently undergoing analysis.

The operation commenced in March of last year when SEPRONA discovered that a couple residing in Ariany (Palma de Mallorca) were breeding servals, caracals, and their hybrids with domestic cats on a tract of land. They subsequently sold the animals on social media.

The agents were able to confirm that the couple’s social media activity was highly active, as individuals from other countries contacted them to purchase these types of animals.

The agents confirmed that the breeding of caracals and servals in Mallorca was just a small part of an international network that encompassed breeders, transporters, and veterinarians, and also included other protected species such as white tigers, black leopards, pumas, and hyenas. They continued their investigation. Countries such as Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine transported the majority of the animals for sale into the European Union. Additionally, the animals were smuggled into the European Union via the Polish-Belarusian border and subsequently disseminated with fraudulent documentation.

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It is important to mention that the detainees advertised white tigers, clouded leopards, boreal lynxes, hyenas, black leopards, and pumas for sale on their social media accounts. We discovered that the detainees were seeking €60,000 for the clouded leopard.

The agents arrested the two individuals after determining that they lacked a breeder’s permit and no documentation for the transaction after consulting with the appropriate administrative authorities.

The animals have been temporarily confined at the Son Servera Safari Zoo. Subsequently, the Ministry of Ecological Transition (MITECO) will permanently relocate them to Prima Domus (Alicante). Once rehomed to Prima Domus they can be visited, more information on the website https://en.aap.eu/visit-us/

In Russia and Ukraine, there is a prevalent practice of breeding and maintaining these cats as pets, and this trend has begun to be replicated in other countries. These species necessitate an extensive amount of space. Additionally, these specimens are highly aggressive and may pose a threat to humans or other animals. Consequently, a significant number of individuals avoid or relocate them.

Felines that are hybrids


Additionally, numerous breeders have successfully interbred these felines with domestic cats, despite the potential sterility and viability issues that may arise from premature births. Additionally, caracals and servals frequently regard domestic cats as prey rather than mating companions, and they may even cause them to suffer severe injuries or death.

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The purpose of hybridisation is to produce unique cats that exhibit the wild characteristics of their wild progenitors but with a reduced intensity. In reality, the cost of a pure caracal or serval can surpass €8,000, while a first-generation hybrid can fetch up to €18,000.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered


The CITES Convention on the Protection of Wild Fauna and Flora by Controlling Trade, which implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in the European Union, safeguards these animals. The researchers found that the sellers were offering these animals without the necessary documentation. It is important to acknowledge that the CITES Convention safeguards hybrid animals until the fourth generation.

The investigators are accusing the apprehended individuals of offences against wildlife, smuggling, document falsification, and organised crime.

The SEPRONA (Security and Investigation Unit) of the Valencia Guardia Civil conducted the operation in conjunction with the UPRONA (National Police) in Mallorca, Citizen Security components from the Balearic Islands Command, and MITERD personnel. The First Instance and Investigation Court No. 1 in Manacor directed the operation.

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Costa Blanca

Eight minors and four adults arrested in a brawl in Alicante

National Police officers in Alicante have apprehended four adults and eight juveniles on suspicion of causing a riot and causing injuries. Four Spaniards, three minors, and eight Algerians, five of whom are minors, are among those apprehended. A katana (a Japanese sword characterised by a curved, single-edged blade) was confiscated during the police intervention, and one of the detainees attempted to conceal it from the officers.

The incident took place on Sunday, May 4th, at approximately 8:15 p.m. in a location near Boulevard del Pla in the city of Alicante. Four of the apprehended individuals sustained injuries that required medical attention.

The disturbance was characterised by the use of blunt objects, such as katana-style swords and pepper spray, as reported by the officers. Numerous contacts to the 091 call centre from residents of the “northern” region of Alicante informed the police of the events.

The National Police deployed extensively in response to the severity of the incident. Upon their arrival, the officers observed a significant number of individuals disputing among themselves. Upon recognising the officers’ presence, they attempted to escape. Nevertheless, the police had already cordoned off the area to prevent escapes, thereby neutralising and regulating the situation.

Other participants in the same conflict who attempted to conceal themselves among passersby have been located with the assistance of witnesses. Public assistance led to the discovery of pepper spray in the possession of one of the young men.

The aforementioned katana-style weapon, which one of the alleged participants in the riot had allegedly attempted to conceal in some hedges, was also recovered as a result of witness statements. He returned to the site and hid it under a car, where a patrol found it.

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The National Police notified the Alicante Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office that they had apprehended juveniles during the aforementioned riot.


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Costa Blanca

Benidorm National Police thwart church robbery

National Police Car

In the early hours of the morning, a man made an attempt to loot a parish church in Benidorm. However, the alarm was activated, and the National Police responded promptly to avert any theft. The force confirmed that the alleged criminal, aged 30, was apprehended in the vicinity, where he was found to be in possession of a multi-tool and a torch, as a result of the prompt police response and the cordon that had been established around the premises.

An alarm in a church triggered the incident. The National Police’s Cimacc 091 Unit promptly received the alert and dispatched numerous personnel from the Local Citizen Security Brigade.

The actuation of a location and containment device was prompted by the detection of a suspect inside the building by video surveillance cameras. The officers collaborated to create a cordon around the facility, which encompassed potential escape routes.

Officers located him near the building a few minutes after the deployment, where he was carrying a multi-tool and a torch. He was immediately apprehended after being identified as the perpetrator of the robbery.

The police determined that the detainee had climbed over the perimeter fence of the church and forced the lock on one of the sliding doors to obtain access during an initial inspection. He was unable to take any items as a result of the rapid operation. The Benidorm Duty Court was summoned to hear the detainee.

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Man who held and beat his ex-partner in Torrevieja to be tried on Thursday

The man who is accused of restraining his ex-partner in a Torrevieja residence for hours and striking her on the head and stomach will be put on trial on Thursday.

At approximately 11:00 p.m. on November 1st, 2023, the incident happened. After a two-year relationship, the defendant accosted his ex-partner on the street. He secured a cloth sack over her head, covered her mouth, and coerced her into a vehicle operated by an unidentified individual. The vehicle was to transport her to a residence in a nearby housing development.

Upon his arrival, he confined her to one of the house’s rooms and spent the night repeatedly entering and exiting the room in an attempt to physically assault her. The woman was able to escape from the residence at 2:00 p.m. the following day.

The Prosecutor’s Office is requesting an eight-year prison sentence for the offences of unlawful detention, assault, and threats. The trial is scheduled to commence at 9:30 a.m. in Section 1 of the Alicante Provincial Court on Thursday, May 8th.


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