The Internal Security Forces managed to seize one of the largest operations of trafficking in animals that are prohibited from being sold locally and internationally, conducted by the Batroun unit. In detail, as part of the Internal Security Forces' efforts to protect the environment and regulate violations of the game laws, a patrol from the Batroun unit within the regional gendarmerie suspected a white Hyundai van carrying: Y.A. (born in 1969, Lebanese) and F.K. (born in 1983, Syrian). They found with them an Eastern Imperial Eagle, with its legs bound inside a cardboard box, in addition to two lion cubs in wooden cages, and a large number of wild goldfinches—all prohibited from local and international sale—along with "pigeons," "canaries," "ramajas," and "paradise birds," placed in cages.
The driver (Y.A.) was interrogated along with the owner of the ornamental birds (M.G., born in 1976, Syrian) and the person who was going to buy the birds (A.K., born in 1971, Lebanese). In the presence of representatives from environmental associations in Lebanon and the Ministry of Agriculture, the wild goldfinches—numbering 350—were released into one of the mountain reserves, and the two lion cubs and the eagle were handed over to two associations for care. As for the ornamental birds, totaling 1,350, they were returned to their owner (M.G.). The individuals mentioned were released pending residence documents, based on the authority of the relevant judiciary. This represents one of the largest operations to seize animals prohibited from being sold locally and internationally conducted by the Batroun unit. #Internal_Security_Forces
