Smuggled birds returned to Pakistan

Manama : The authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle over 1, 000 rare birds from Pakistan to the Kingdom by returning the shipment to the authorities in that country.

“Over a thousand rare birds, including baby parrots and nightingales were smuggled to Bahrain in the guise of lovebirds and Australian parrots in collusion with government departments on March 5. Bahrain authorities stopped the smuggler from carrying the birds to the country and sent the shipment back to Pakistan on March 8. Dozens of birds died due to starvation,” Pakistani news agencies reported yesterday. “Officials of the Pakistani Customs and wildlife department as well as a veterinary doctor of a government department were involved in the crime,” Pakistan’s Geo TV said.

“The individuals, instead of returning the shipment back to the wildlife department, declared the birds as ‘imports’ and gave the birds back to the importer. No inquiry was conducted against the importer either. Documents related to declaration of birds as imports were riddled with contradictions.