Customs officials from the Customs Agency have prevented the smuggling of exotic corals, live leopard geckos, various types of spiders, and walrus tusks over the past two years. The latest case is from October 28 of this year, when four marine rock specimens were seized at Sofia Airport. Animals, such as leopard geckos and spiders, were detained and handed over for temporary storage.
Over the years, there have been detentions of turtles, parrots, pheasants, glass eels, as well as products from protected animals. There are increasing cases of discovered corals, products made from the skin of protected animals, as well as souvenirs from protected species. These products are often associated with the travels of tourists who are not familiar with the import conditions on the territory of the EU.
Smuggling can be divided into two main hypotheses: a complete ban on trade in protected species and false declaration of goods. Certificates of origin, veterinary or phytosanitary certificates are often missing. Customs officials participate in international operations to combat smuggling. The routes depend on the breeding and demand for the animals.
Animals, plants, and products from them are found at airports (Sofia) or at major border checkpoints (Kapitan Andreevo). Violators are punished under the Customs Law and the Biodiversity Act. The penalty for carrying a protected species can be from three to ten years of imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 to 100,000 leva.
The risks associated with the trafficking of live animals are related to inappropriate transport conditions. Smuggling can lead to a decrease in the population or the settlement of uncharacteristic species. When detained, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) is notified. The detained animals are transported to rescue centers, zoos, and terrariums. Bulgaria has returned endangered species back to the wild. The article also cites previous cases of detained eels and pheasants.