Italian financial police and customs agents at a Sicilian port intercepted a Maltese man attempting to smuggle 377 live exotic animals toward Malta, marking one of the most substantial wildlife confiscations of its kind, the Guardia di Finanza said.

The operation took place near the boarding lanes for the Malta catamaran, where authorities discovered 300 tortoises and 77 parrots packed inside a vehicle that completely lacked the space and climate controls necessary to ensure their survival.

Veterinary professionals from the Ragusa Health Authority inspected the transport conditions on-site and confirmed they were entirely unsuitable for the animals.

Further analysis by the CITES operations team from Catania-Fontanarossa revealed that 76 of the specimens belong to heavily protected species under the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Specifically, the seized birds included three macaw species, namely Ara macao, Ara chloropterus, and Ara ararauna, alongside two cockatoo species, Cacatua roseicapilla and Cacatua alba.

Law enforcement officials reported the suspect to the Ragusa public prosecutor's office, citing criminal allegations of maintaining animals in cruel conditions incompatible with their natural welfare and violating Italian law 150/1992, which enforces international wildlife trade regulations.

All confiscated animals were promptly relocated to a proper facility managed by an amateur breeder to receive expert care.

The successful interdiction stemmed from an ongoing memorandum of understanding renewed in 2025 between Italy's financial police and customs agency to combat cross-border trafficking.