After checking for a registration, the authorities discovered caged animals on board.

Most of the exotic animals were quickly turned over to local maritime authorities.

[Tomas Orellana, Maritime Commissary]: (Spanish male soundbite)
“In total, with all in agreement on the final count, there were around 400 animals that were being held captive, including macaws, parrots, toucan birds, marine turtles, squirrels and other species.”

The complete count of the contraband was 308 marine turtles, 40 land turtles, 25 squirrels, 20 each of macaws and parrots and 11 alligators.

Some of the species on board are also facing the threat of extinction, including the arawana parrot.

The boat, sailing under the name of “Rosa Isabel,” departed from the Peruvian beach town of Los Palos, just 10 kilometers north of the Chilean-Peruvian border.

The vessel was then headed for Arica, whose current black market rates would have put the total worth of the animals at around $56,000 US dollars.

Chilean judicial authorities said many of the animals were protected under the international Agreement Over Threatened Jungle Animals Commerce (CITES).

[Javiera Lopez, Arica Prosecutor]:
“As a result of the patrol, we were able to find a person inside of the boat, who was then arrested, and who was transporting various cages with animals of exotic origin — we could say — and that are also protected by the CITES agreement.”

Moises Segundo Diaz Verdugo, the Chilean man found on board was arrested for contraband, trade of prohibited species and animal mistreatment.

Duration : 0:1:44

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Duration : 0:8:58

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