Three men are accused of illegally selling migratory birds in Puerto Rico

A grand federal jury has accused three men of conspiring to engage in the illicit trade in migratory birds and was arrested yesterday by agents of the Fisheries and Wildlife Service along with members of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) .

One of the defendants was identified as Carlos Flores Rius, who has a conspiracy charge, five charges to sell, offer to sell and exchange migratory birds; and a wildlife trafficking charge. The bird he was trying to sell was short-eared owls.

Another of the defendants is Edgardo Marín Candelario, who faces a conspiracy charge and a charge for wildlife trafficking. He sold two young owls, the federal prosecutor’s office said in a press release.

The third defendant is Misael Cruz Rivera, who faces a charge for selling, offering to sell and exchanging migratory birds, specifically an American kestrel, another type of bird.

According to the federal indictment, these people kept the animals in temporary homes in which they managed to sell them. The birds offered them through private chat groups on the Internet.

If convicted, defendants could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $ 250,000 for conspiracy to engage in the illicit trade in migratory birds and each charge under the Lacey Act; and up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $ 250,000.00 for each charge of the Migratory Birds Act.

Deputy Federal Prosecutor Carmen M. Márquez Marín is in charge of processing the case.

“Illegal migratory bird trafficking poses a serious threat to our ecosystems,” highlighted the head of the federal prosecutor’s office in Puerto Rico, Stephen Muldrow.

The official stressed that his office will continue to prosecute anyone involved in the illegal sale of protected wildlife.

For his part, the secretary of the DRNA, Rafael Marchargo, called on the public not to promote this type of practice.

“Sellers and potential buyers of these animals know that the Federal authorities together with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources are conducting investigations into the possession and sale of these species. It is illegal, pose a threat to the flora and fauna of Puerto Rico and more worryingly, they could even pose a danger to people’s lives“He said.