A man of New Zealand nationality was detained by the police at the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Alajuela Province on suspicion of wildlife trafficking.

According to the brief report from the Ministry of Public Security, the case began on Sunday when the man intended to travel back to his home country.

During the routine baggage screening process, Migration checkpoint officials detected something strange inside the man's suitcases.

In a more detailed inspection of the man's luggage, officers found several containers and plastic bags containing various marine species. Among these were seashells and live marine mollusks.

The foreigner, whose identity was not provided by the authorities, was detained at the airport and presented before the Public Prosecutor's Office. However, the fiscal who handled the case allowed the man to leave the country.

The marine animals were seized as part of the evidence in the case. In addition, the recovered species were handed over to representatives of the National System of Conservation Areas, SINAC, who will review the condition of the animals and, if applicable, return them to their natural ecosystem.

According to SINAC, trading or capturing wild animals for captivity is a crime in Costa Rica.

Wild flora and fauna are protected by Wildlife Conservation Law No. 7317. Those found guilty of keeping wild animals will be fined between $1,400 and $2,800. In the case of wild animals in danger of extinction or with small populations, these fines could be higher.

Additionally, the law establishes that any person who is found responsible for committing an environmental or wildlife crime could face a prison sentence of one year.

One of the biggest problems that threaten wildlife in the country is the illegal extraction of species from their natural habitat to traffick them or keep them as souvenirs or pets.  Recently, police detained two men suspected of trafficking a live margay wild cat (Leopardus wiedii).

In August police seized two adult jaguars (Panthera onca) that were caged inside a private property located also in Alajuela.

Also in August, police seized a large number of taxidermied wildlife animals that were found on private property in Alajuela.

In June police arrested a Costa Rican woman as a suspect in an international wildlife traffic case of insects and plants brought from Panama to be marketed in Costa Rica.

Early this year, police arrested a U.S. citizen on suspicion of trafficking cicada insects as well as several seeds and plant sprouts.

Anonymous complaints about wild animal hunting or in captivity can be made by calling line 1192.

 

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