A major network involved in the trafficking of protected wildlife species was dismantled during a joint operation on Sunday in Sidi Bouknadel (Salé Prefecture), the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) announced Wednesday. The operation, carried out by ANEF's territorial services with the support of the Royal Gendarmerie and local authorities, resulted in the seizure of a large number of protected animals, including African grey parrots, lorises, caiques, a python, a scorpion, and a tarantula, the agency said in a statement. These exotic species are listed under the appendices of the CITES Convention, which regulates international trade in endangered wild fauna and flora. The operation uncovered a clandestine warehouse designed to mimic a natural habitat, where two large aviaries containing 201 illegally held birds were discovered. The seized animals were immediately placed under the care of a specialized team commissioned by ANEF and transferred to a wildlife rehabilitation center for safety and health monitoring, the agency added. A judicial investigation has been opened to identify those involved and dismantle any related trafficking networks, in accordance with Law No. 29.05 on the protection of wild fauna and flora and the regulation of their trade. Morocco, a signatory of the CITES Convention since 1975, continues to honor its commitments through the implementation of Law 29.05 and its enforcement decree. This latest seizure reaffirms Morocco's determination to combat wildlife trafficking and safeguard both national and global biodiversity, ANEF emphasized, urging the public to act responsibly and warning that the purchase of any exotic animal must be accompanied by official CITES documentation proving its legal origin.
