Six poachers were arrested over illegal trapping offences in the last eight days, while two more were convicted in court for similar offences yesterday, CABS said on Friday.

In a statement, CABS said that their field operations have led to the arrest of another six poachers and to the confiscation of 33 large unregistered clap-nets as well as 131 live finches – all of which were found on unregistered trapping sites.

The NGO said that since mid-September it has reported a total of  60 cases of illegal trapping to the police who were able to identify at least 25 offenders and seize a total of 211 live bird including Hawfinches, Linnets, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Larks and Serins. Nets and bird callers worth several thousand Euros were dismantled.

Meanwhile, the NGO also said that on Thursday, two men filmed by CABS illegally trapping finches close to Tal-Merlha at the west coast of Malta in spring 2019 were convicted in court.

The men were each fined €1,500 and had their trapping licenses revoked for two years.

After the court session CABS staff were handed out summons to testify in a total of 18 additional court cases against poachers who have been caught between 2018 and 2020. The cases are scheduled to be heard by Magistrate Elaine Mercieca in January 2022.

“We are pleased that finally these men will be held accountable for their irresponsible behaviour and will receive justice,” CABS Wildife Crime Officer Fiona Burrows said adding that she expects at least 32 additional trappers to be taken to court for offences documented by CABS in 2020 and spring 2021.

CABS praised the Police’s Environmental Protection Unit for the good cooperation and fast response to their reports.

However, it expressed fears that frequent reshuffles and transfers within the police may hamper the efficiency of the EPU in proportionally tackling these cases of wildlife crime.

“We understand that the outstanding track records of some particular EPU officers are a thorn in the flesh of the poaching community who use their political sway to prevent them from fulfilling their duties“, CABS Press Officer Axel Hirschfeld stated.

"This is totally unacceptable and yet more evidence that this government is determined to appease poachers at all costs to ensure their votes in the upcoming election".