Police confiscated two illegal finch trapping nets at Ta' Ċenċ in Gozo on Sunday, in an operation that was followed by what the Malta Ranger Unit (MRU) described as a suspected tailgating and intimidation incident.

One of the nets that was confiscated was unattended, while the other was at a previously reported, possibly unregistered site, the MRU said.

After this confiscation, a pickup truck repeatedly drove past Rangers observing police activity. The same vehicle later tailgated the Rangers, filmed them while parked, and reappeared again hours later at around midnight, the NGO said.

The MRU believes the individuals in the vehicle are somehow connected to the second site. The Rangers then left the area for safety reasons, and described the situation as concerning, the MRU said.

"This incident is showing the severe situation in Gozo where impunity reigns," the Malta Ranger Unit said in a Facebook post.

In light of this incident, the NGO is pushing for a dedicated Environmental Protection Unit within the Police in Gozo.

"The impunity that offenders of environmental crimes feel is not only harming nature, but also putting our Rangers and the public at risk," they said.