A case involving the illicit movement of living animals unfolds from an incident at a Barcelona airport, where authorities intercepted a package of concern. Seventy-two Aldabra giant tortoises, native to the Seychelles, were found hidden in a traveller’s carry-on luggage. The discovery sparked a broader investigation into a network trafficking in protected fauna. Investigators later traced a pattern of activity to a farm in Sant Vicenç de Montalt, where the same individual reportedly kept and fed a variety of exotic species including Australian pythons, a chameleon, Florida turtles, and Siamese crocodiles. The Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office Environment Branch later filed a formal indictment against the main defendant, proposing a prison term of five and a half years and a substantial fine of 350,000 euros for smuggling protected wildlife and participating in a criminal group. Two additional defendants, the wife and the father-in-law, faced separate charges with shorter potential penalties. [Source: Prosecutor’s Office of Barcelona]
The events began when the Italian national DV, departing Terminal 1 at El Prat airport around 10:30 in the morning on April 5, 2019, arrived from the Seychelles. He passed through the green channel reserved for travellers with nothing to declare, but a civil servant requested that he open his carry-on. Inside, the agents found the 72 giant Aldabra tortoises. The prosecution argued that the aim was to smuggle the animals without the appropriate permits or licenses to import, hold, or legally trade endangered species under international conventions or European Community rules. [Source: Prosecutor’s Office of Barcelona]
According to the prosecution, the defendant did not possess the documents required to cover importation and legal ownership. The confiscated tortoises were valued at 112,200 euros and were relocated to the Zoo in Masquefa and the Catalonia Amphibian and Reptile Rescue Centre. As the animals grew larger, they were subsequently distributed to reserves and enclosures across Spain. [Source: Prosecutor’s Office of Barcelona]
Terrariums and exotic animals
From the prosecutors’ perspective, DV has maintained a pattern since 2011 of possessing and selling exotic animals from his home in Sant Vicenç de Montalt and other undisclosed locations. The majority of the animals involved were reptiles. The practice reportedly occurred without fulfilling the legal requirements necessary to obtain substantial interests for ownership and commercial activities tied to the animals. Before discovery, the defendant is alleged to have traveled multiple times to the Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Cairo, and the Mauritius Islands, repeatedly bringing exotic reptiles into Spain for resale. [Source: Prosecutor’s Office of Barcelona]
The accused kept the animals on a farm in Sant Vicenç de Montalt, which he rented from his father-in-law, who was also implicated in the case. Investigators described a scene of organized activity, noting a shed, 27 empty terrariums, 19 lamps, and a freezer that stocked eight kilograms of live chicks to feed the animals. Specimens such as spur-throated tortoises, chameleons, pythons, and other exotic species were found in and around the dwelling. None of the animals bore markings or microchips that would allow for legal identification. The prosecution emphasized that the defendants had reportedly collaborated with the DV woman, who operated an online platform dedicated to the sale of reptiles and amphibians. [Source: Prosecutor’s Office of Barcelona]