Two men aged 49 and 52 have been arrested in Orihuela on suspicion of wildlife crime after National Police officers discovered around 400 protected goldfinches inside their vehicle. The birds were being transported in 12 large cages when the car was stopped at a routine early morning checkpoint at the entrance to the city.

Officers became suspicious when the driver attempted to avoid the police control. A search of the vehicle revealed cages filled with European goldfinches, known locally as jilgueros parva. Many of the birds were in poor condition and 39 were later confirmed dead.

The men admitted the birds had been captured in Lorca, Murcia, and were destined for illegal sale in France. Police also seized 1,765 euros in cash, believed to be linked to wildlife trafficking.

The surviving birds were transferred to Orihuela’s Animal Protection Centre before being moved to the Santa Faz Bird Recovery Centre in Alicante. Under Spanish and European law, the capture, possession and sale of protected wild birds without authorisation is prohibited.