Galapagos Wildlife Trafficker Convicted to Three Years in Prison
Date: February 9, 2023.
//Version en espanol abajo.//
Galapagos Islands is a treasure trove of biodiversity that contains unique species not found anywhere else in the world. It is crucial to stop wildlife trafficking. This serious crime threatens the survival and well-being of these rare species.
The Constitutional Court of Ecuador sent citizen Paul Adolfo T., to three years imprisonment for wildlife trafficking. For crimes against wildlife, a sentence can be imposed of between one and three years in prison under Article 247 of Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP).
This ruling was made because of events that took place on September 27, 2019, when 123 juvenile Giant Tortoises went missing from the Arnaldo Tuiza Breeding Centre on Isabela Island.
In a press release, the Attorney General’s Office of Ecuador (FGE), stated that investigations revealed that tortoises taken from the breeding centre were systematically replaced by wild tortoises. This was in addition to the fact that illegal sales of these reptiles were apparently occurring in Ecuador and Peru.
The court imposed a minimum of 10 monthly wages, sold assets and bank accounts totaling $4,000 and a total $669,000 as restitution to Galapagos National Park Directorate. The three other defendants in the case, Daniel T. T. and Gustavo F. G., were also found innocent.
Galapagos Conservancy supports the GNPD in its fight against wildlife trafficking. Protecting the Galapagos Islands’ unique species is vital for the survival of the Archipelago.
Sentencia de 3 anos de prision por delito contra la flora y fauna
La Corte Constitucional del Ecuador confirmo el 31 de enero del ano en curso, una condena de tres anos de prision para el ciudadano Paul Adolfo T. por el delito de trafico de especies, debido a los sucesos ocurridos el 27 de septiembre de 2019 cuando se descubrio que habian desaparecido 123 tortugas gigantes juveniles del centro de crianza Arnaldo Tupiza en la isla Isabela.
La Fiscalia General del Estado ecuatoriano (FGE), a traves de un comunicado de prensa, informo que las investigaciones determinaron que las tortugas de este centro de crianza fueron suplantadas por tortugas silvestres de manera sistematica y que aparentemente se comercializaba los quelonios de forma ilegal en Ecuador y Peru.
Se dispuso ademas una multa de 10 salarios basicos unificados, la enajenacion de bienes y cuentas bancarias por un monto de 4.000 dolares y una reparacion integral de USD 669.000 a la Direccion del Parque Nacional Galapagos (DPNG). Respecto a los otros tres procesados en este caso, Daniel T. T., Gustavo F. G. y Edison M. M., el Tribunal los declaro inocentes.
El Codigo Organico Integral Penal (COIP), en el articulo 247, numeral 2 y 3 establece la pena privativa de libertad de uno a tres anos por el delito contra la flora y fauna silvestres.
Galapagos Conservancy ratifica su compromiso de respaldar decididamente la gestion de la DPNG en su lucha contra el trafico de especies, pues las islas Galapagos poseen especies unicas en el mundo y la proteccion de cada una de ellas es vital para la sostenibilidad del archipielago.
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