James BryceTWO people have been arrested over the alleged trafficking of more than 100 protected animal species including primates, marsupials and exotic birds.
The suspects – a Ronda man and the owner of a zoo in Cadiz province – have also been charged with fraud and issuing false documentation.
Police began their investigation in July after becoming aware of a Badajoz resident who had bought a Capuchin monkey over the internet.
They traced the seller to Ronda, and discovered that the sale had been carried out using false documentation.
The zoo owner was later arrested on suspicion of supplying the animals and documentation to the seller.
Primates cannot be owned by individuals for sanitary and public health reasons – only research centres and authorised zoos can do so.
