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Woman Arrested for Trafficking Pangolin Bodies
27 Feb
Summary
- A woman was apprehended with 40kg of pangolin carcasses.
- The discovery was made via X-ray at Madrid-Barajas Airport.
- Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammal.
Spanish Civil Guard officers arrested a woman at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport last week. She was found with a suitcase containing 15 pangolin carcasses, totaling 40kg. An X-ray scan of the luggage revealed the abnormalities upon arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The 60-year-old woman is under investigation for alleged wildlife trafficking. The pangolin bodies were handed over for study and assessment by a national body regulating trade in protected species. Illegal trafficking of such species is a serious threat to biodiversity and carries potential prison sentences and fines.
Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammals, with their scales and meat highly sought after, particularly in China. Their scales are erroneously believed to have medicinal properties, and in some regions, their fetuses are considered an aphrodisiac. These animals are protected under CITES, with over half a million seized between 2016 and 2024.
Additionally, pangolins have been suspected of playing a role in the transmission of viruses like Covid-19. Conservationists report that despite some downward trends since the pandemic, pangolins continue to be poached at alarming rates in Africa.
