It was about time. It is the general feeling of animal lovers that in recent times they have seen with concern several reports of the illegal sale of puppies that came from farms in Eastern countries. A large police operation directed by the head of the 23rd court of Barcelona and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Environment has managed to dismantle a criminal organization that in recent years brought dogs bred in terrible conditions that were sold with illegal documentation in shops. The result of an operation, which has been a success, are 18 arrests, not all of them will go to court and, most importantly, the recovery of more than 400 live puppies (350 dogs and 50 cats), in addition to numerous specimens dead
The detainees played with the feelings of the families who chose to buy a dog in a commercial establishment. They were animals that presented themselves with all the documentation in order, but a very high percentage died after long illnesses. The members of the network imported the animals when they were only a few weeks old and those who endured the long journey in terrible conditions, then, when they arrived at their families, fell ill.
Diseases that had also become a source of profit for the organization. In addition to the establishments inspected, the police entered two veterinary clinics with professionals not only accused of manipulating and signing false documentation, but also attending to sick animals on the recommendation of store managers who were part of the criminal organization.
It all started three years ago when a routine inspection by the Barcelona City Police detected a transport of animals coming from Hungary that did not have the correct documentation and with animals that did not have the minimum age to travel.
The urban guards started an investigation and opened proceedings at the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office. A transport that was headed to the Bitxets store, which, by the way, gives its name to the current investigation.
Two years ago, the Mossos d’Esquadra Environmental Group took over the duties and started working. The investigation immediately located the tentacles of the criminal organization in Madrid, Andorra, Catalonia (Vallromanes, Sant Feliu de Codines, Sant Cugat) and even Dubai. Seeing the great dimension of the cause, a joint team was set up in which, in addition to the Urban Guard and the Mossos, the National Police, the Civil Guard and the Andorran Police entered.
A group of investigators yesterday raided around twenty premises and also clinics and managed to arrest what is considered to be the mastermind of the operation. A Spaniard with a history of similar causes, responsible for several shops and who was opening a business in Dubai with puppies. Each animal was sold at a price of more than 5,000 euros.
