DR ‹ › The Spanish Civil Guard in the Cádiz region has seized a shipment containing remains and hides of protected animal species from Africa that were found in a vehicle arriving from Morocco. According to Spanish authorities, the operation took place on the A-381 highway, when a patrol stopped to assist a car that appeared to have broken down due to a technical problem. However, the driver's nervous behavior raised suspicions among officers, prompting them to conduct a thorough search of the vehicle. During the inspection, officers discovered 150 kilograms of antlers from several deer species, including stags, red deer, and roe deer, along with other remains believed to belong to deer and antelopes. Authorities also seized four giraffe bones and a wooden statue carved in the shape of a giraffe. The shipment further included raw hides of African animals, including African warthog, springbok antelope, and oryx. The Civil Guard said the driver was unable to provide documentation proving the legal origin or lawful possession of the items, prompting authorities to open an investigation on suspicion of illegal trafficking in protected species, in accordance with the CITES convention on international trade in endangered species.
