Spanish authorities have broken up a trafficking ring operating in the illegal sale of exotic animals, including white tigers, pumas, and lynxes, with operations centred in the Balearic Islands. The Guardia Civil, working with Europol and wildlife protection agencies, executed simultaneous raids on properties in Majorca, seizing 19 protected wild cats and arresting two suspects.
The animals, many of them cubs, were allegedly being bred and sold to private collectors across Europe via online classified platforms and encrypted messaging apps. Authorities say the animals were kept in inadequate enclosures, some barely meeting the minimum legal standards for animal welfare. Several showed signs of malnutrition and stress-related behavioural issues.
Those arrested face charges related to wildlife trafficking, document forgery, and endangering public safety. The ring reportedly used fake permits and invoices to conceal the origin and movement of the animals, many of which fall under CITES protection—the international convention that restricts trade in endangered species.
Animal welfare groups have applauded the action, warning that the exotic pet trade is growing in Europe, fuelled by social media trends and celebrity influence. “Keeping apex predators as pets is not only cruel, but incredibly dangerous,” said a spokesperson from Fundación para el Asesoramiento y Acción en Defensa de los Animales (FAADA).
The seized animals are now being transferred to accredited wildlife sanctuaries in mainland Spain and France, where they will receive veterinary care and long-term rehabilitation.
This operation marks one of Spain’s largest crackdowns on illegal wildlife trade in recent years, highlighting the country’s strategic role in both the import and re-export of trafficked species within Europe.